The epic story of a massive dark-web takedown

PLUS: Get exclusive commentary and behind-the-scenes notes and photos. [(image) WIRED Daily Newsletter Logo]( [View this email in your browser]( | [Manage newsletter subscriptions](newsletter=wir) [WIRED Longreads newsletter] 01.22.23 WIRED has never done anything quite this big, quite this epic, before. Any big story by Andy Greenberg is an event, whether it’s the definitive tale of the [largest cyberattack]( ever loosed on the world, or of a [heroic hacker](’s darkest secret. But this one is different. For the past five years, Andy’s been researching the spectacular demise of AlphaBay—the largest dark-web drug market in history, taken down by the most head-spinningly massive and complex police operation ever to hit the internet’s underworld. The story is so headlong, and has so many twists and snowballing developments, that we had to let it unfurl at a scale as grand as the subject itself. And so we bring you a serialized work of narrative journalism, “The Rise and Fall of AlphaBay,” unspooled in six glorious parts. Adapted from Andy’s [new book](, Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency, this project is so great we’re even giving it [its own newsletter](: a space where Andy will dole out a bunch of behind-the-scenes notes on his reporting process. [SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER]( You won’t want to miss it, especially once you’ve read the series. [Start with Part 1 now](. —John Gravois | Features Editor Start Here ... [Illustration of a car crashing into a closed gate]( [The Hunt for the Dark Web’s Biggest Kingpin, Part 1: The Shadow]( [BY ANDY GREENBERG | 14-MINUTE READ]( [AlphaBay was the largest online drug bazaar in history, run by a technological mastermind who seemed untouchable—until his tech was turned against him.](   Want more? Get exclusive commentary and behind-the-scenes notes and photos from Andy Greenberg's reporting by [signing up]( for The Rise and Fall of AlphaBay companion newsletter. This newsletter is a limited series of six editions. [SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER](   Read the Whole Series [Illustration of a full ashtray a TV remote and a hand holding black coffee]( [The Hunt for the Dark Web’s Biggest Kingpin, Part 2: Pimp_alex_91]( [On the trail of AlphaBay's mastermind, a tip leads detectives to a suspect in Bangkok—and to the daunting task of tracing his millions in cryptocurrency.]( [Dark illustration at night with a moped, a person leaning on a sports car, and another person leaning on a railing in front of a building with three 7's on the windows]( [The Hunt for the Dark Web's Biggest Kingpin, Part 3: Alpha Male]( [As authorities discover their target’s online alter ego as a boastful womanizer, their operation takes on a double life of its own—and a bold new ambition.]( [Illustration of people in suits sitting in a darkened room]( [The Hunt for the Dark Web’s Biggest Kingpin, Part 4: Face to Face]( [The team uses a secret technique to locate AlphaBay’s server. But just as the operation heats up, the agents have an unexpected run-in with their target.]( [Illustration of person being pinned on the ground by four other people and one person standing in the background]( [The Hunt for the Dark Web’s Biggest Kingpin, Part 5: Takedown]( [After months of meticulous planning, investigators finally move in to catch AlphaBay’s mastermind red-handed. Then the case takes a tragic turn.]( [An illustration of a teddy bear looking out of the window with people with a view of people and cars at night.]( [The Hunt for the Dark Web’s Biggest Kingpin, Part 6: Endgame]( [With AlphaBay shuttered, Operation Bayonet enters its final phase: driving the site’s refugees into a giant trap. But one refugee hatched his own plan.]( [GET WIRED]( [Get WIRED for just $29.99 $5. Includes unlimited access to wired.com plus free stickers!]([Subscribe now.]( [(image) WIRED Logo]( [(image) WIRED on Facebook]( [(image) WIRED on Twitter]( [(image) WIRED on Instagram]( [(image) WIRED on LinkedIn]( [(image) WIRED on YouTube]( [Podcasts]( Have questions or comments? [Reply to this email](mailto:hello@wired.com?subject=WIRED%20Newsletter%20Questions,%20Comments%20or%20Feedback). This email was sent to you by WIRED. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our email address, wired@newsletters.wired.com, to your address book. View our [Privacy Policy]( [Unsubscribe]( or [manage your newsletter subscriptions](newsletter=wir)