Navigating community-transaction and egalitarian-hierarchy divides: redefining virtual communities in the darknet drug trade and beyond

The darknet drug trade presents a complex interplay between transactional and communal dynamics. This study nuances these dual dimensions by employing a long-term digital ethnography and content analysis of over 16,000 posts, alongside in-depth interviews with users of Cebulka, the largest Polish-language market. It investigates whether darknet spaces lean more toward transactional or social dynamics and explores whether these spaces can be considered communities. The findings reveal that while most users focus on efficient transactions and security, a smaller, committed minority fosters a sense of shared purpose and community. This group significantly influences the platform's hierarchies, shared meanings, and practices, highlighting a paradox where anti-systemic, egalitarian ideals coexist with hierarchical structures. The present research contributes to the broader understanding of virtual communities in illicit markets while also emphasizing the need for nuanced approaches to examine online communities in general, particularly in subversive spaces that nonetheless replicate mainstream societal dynamics.

This work was supported by the Polish National Science Centre (NCN) [grant number 2021/43/B/HS6/00710].