Prime Market FAQ
This covers the questions that actually come up — account setup, moving funds, understanding the escrow system, disputes, and how to apply as a vendor. Organized by topic, expandable for quick scanning.
Getting Started
Navigate to the market's onion URL using Tor Browser. There are two CAPTCHAs to solve before reaching the login/signup page — this is intentional. Click Sign Up Now under the sign-in box. Enter a username, a password (you'll enter it twice to confirm), fill in the CAPTCHA, and click Sign Up.
If everything's correct, you'll be shown your Account Secret and mnemonic key/phrase. Write both down and store them offline — these are not recoverable if lost. The account secret is used every time you sign in.
Enter your username, the account secret you received at registration, and your password. Complete the CAPTCHA, then click Sign In. Vendors must also have a PGP key configured in their settings. Buyers are strongly encouraged to set one up too — vendors use it to send encrypted shipping confirmations and tracking info.
The Account Secret is a word generated when you sign up. It's part of every login — username + secret + password. If you lose it, you cannot sign in. The mnemonic key is your only recovery method. Both must be stored somewhere safe, offline, separate from your device.
Wallet & Funds
| Action | BTC | XMR |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmations needed | 1 | 2 |
| Credit time after confirmation | ~20 min | ~20 min |
| Deposit address validity | 6 hours | 6 hours |
| Minimum withdrawal | 0.0005 BTC | 0.002 XMR |
| Withdrawal fee (market) | None | None |
| Network fee (XMR flat) | — | 0.0001 XMR |
| Withdrawals per hour | 1 | 1 |
| Transfer fee (user-to-user) | 0.25% | 0.25% |
First, make sure funds are already in a local wallet you control — not an exchange. Click the wallet icon in the top navigator, then Request New Address. You'll receive a deposit address valid for exactly 6 hours. Send from your local wallet before that window closes.
Sending from an exchange or mixer often adds delays that can exceed the 6-hour window, causing the deposit to miss credit. Keep funds in a local wallet beforehand.
Three common causes: (1) the deposit address had a typo or wasn't generated by Prime Market; (2) the transaction hasn't broadcast or confirmed on-chain yet; (3) confirmations didn't complete within the 6-hour address validity window. Multiple deposits to the same address all credit successfully if they arrive within the time limit.
The once-per-hour limit per coin type is a security measure to prevent load attacks and potential deanonymization attempts against the market's crypto infrastructure. It applies separately to BTC and XMR — you can withdraw both in the same hour, just not two BTC withdrawals within 60 minutes.
Transfers move funds directly between two market accounts — instant, and useful for settling balances without touching the blockchain. There's a 0.25% fee to deter abuse. Once made, transfers cannot be reversed unless the recipient volunteers a refund.
Orders & Escrow
Orders go: Pending → Accepted/Shipped → Finalized. After placing an order the buyer enters shipping details encrypted with the vendor's PGP key. The vendor reviews, then either accepts or cancels. Once shipped, the order moves to Shipped status and the auto-finalize timer starts. Buyers finalize when they receive the goods, releasing escrow to the vendor.
FE orders skip the standard escrow wait — funds are released to the vendor automatically when they mark the order shipped, not when the buyer confirms receipt. This privilege is granted to vendors with proven history on the market. Buyers cannot open a dispute on an FE order, so purchase FE only from vendors you trust.
AF is the market's automatic timer. If the buyer doesn't finalize or dispute within the AF window, the market automatically finalizes the order and releases funds to the vendor. If the AF date is within 2 days and you haven't received your package, open a dispute immediately to pause the clock.
A Fent-Free badge means the vendor uploaded a photo showing part of the product, a written date/timestamp, and a negative fentanyl test strip together in one listing image. If a listing claims Fent-Free but doesn't include this image, report it via ticket immediately.
Disputes
Click the Dispute button on the relevant order. This opens a three-way chat between you, the vendor, and a Prime Market moderator. Describe the issue clearly and provide any evidence you have. The moderator will review and make a decision.
- Your order hasn't arrived and the AF timer is within 2 days of expiring
- You received the wrong item or wrong quantity
- The item contained fentanyl (report immediately regardless of AF timer)
- You only received a partial order
Don't wait until the last minute — dispute as soon as any of the above apply.
Moderators can: unfreeze the order (return it to normal flow), issue a refund to the buyer, or extend the AF timer by a week to give more time. The outcome depends on the evidence provided by both parties.
Vendors
| Vendor Type | Cost | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| New Vendor | $250 USD | Non-refundable bond |
| Established Vendor | Free | Verified reputation on other markets |
| New FE Vendor | $5,000 USD | Non-refundable FE bond |
| Experienced FE Vendor | Free | 1,000+ sales across multiple markets |
Hover over the Sell on Prime menu item. Click Become Vendor if you're new, or Migrate from another DNM if you have an existing track record elsewhere. Deposit funds into your account before applying if you're paying a bond — the fee is deducted from your account balance at application.
PrimeBot (Jabber integration, available to level 2+ vendors) for order notifications. Vacation Mode to pause listings without deleting them. Bulk Listings (Advanced Listings) that combine up to 8 variants in a single listing — useful for weight tiers.
Only JPEG/JPG format. The market strips EXIF metadata and resamples images during upload for security reasons. Total upload size per form must not exceed 5 MB.