Joker Stash operated from around 2014 to 2021 and became one of the largest and most trusted carding platforms on the internet. "Carding" refers to the illegal trade of credit card information for fraudulent purchases or identity theft.
The marketplace was accessible through the Tor network and also used blockchain-based domain names (.bazar, .lib), making it difficult to shut down. It accepted cryptocurrency payments, mainly Bitcoin, to maintain anonymity.
What Did It Sell?
Joker Stash offered various types of stolen data:
Card Dumps – magnetic stripe data copied from physical cards
CVVs – credit card numbers with expiration dates and security codes (used for online fraud)
Fullz – full identity packages (name, date of birth, Social Security number, address, etc.)
Users could search and filter listings by card type, issuing bank, country, and more—similar to a legitimate e-commerce website.
Why Was It Important?
Scale: Joker Stash reportedly sold data from millions of stolen cards.
Reputation: It was known for good customer service, frequent updates, and refund policies.
Impact: The platform was involved in high-profile data breaches affecting banks and retailers worldwide.
It became a hub for cybercriminals globally, setting the standard for illegal online markets.
What Happened to Joker Stash?
In January 2021, the site’s administrator announced that Joker Stash would shut down permanently on February 15, 2021.
Reasons believed to be behind the closure:
Growing law enforcement pressure
COVID-19 (the admin claimed to be ill)
Possibly retiring after earning millions in Bitcoin
Decline in data quality and reputation
Summary
Joker Stash was the dark web’s most prominent carding market, offering stolen credit card data and full identity profiles. Its professional structure, scale, and longevity made it a major player in the cybercrime world until its voluntary closure in 2021.
