What is Silk Road?

Silk Road was a former online black market that was launched in February 2011, and subsequently shut down in October 2013 by the FBI. Silk Road served as a platform for selling illegal drugs, weapons, and other sensitive commodities and data. The platform relied on the Tor web browser that allowed users to remain anonymous. At its height, the website provided services to over 100,000 buyers, and often accepted payments in bitcoin (BTC). The founder, Ross Ulbricht, received a double life sentence without the possibility of parole for 40 years, though some human rights activists oppose his sentencing.