How to Access Prime Market

Download Tor Browser

Go to torproject.org — that's the only legitimate source. Download the version for your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux, or Android). Do NOT download Tor from random sites or app stores — those are often modified versions that steal your data. The download is around 80-100MB, takes a minute or two on most connections.

Install & Launch

Installation is straightforward — it's a self-contained browser, doesn't require admin/root access, and doesn't mess with your system settings. When you first launch it, you'll see a "Connect" button. Click it. Tor will establish a circuit through multiple relay nodes — this takes 5-15 seconds. Once connected, you'll see a modified Firefox browser. That's your Tor Browser. Don't resize the window (it helps fingerprinting). Don't install extensions.

Copy the Prime Market Onion URL

Here's the part where most people get phished. The real Prime Market onion URL is:

The URL starts with primeaz. If yours doesn't, it's fake. Verify this URL against at least one other trusted source before using it. Bookmark it in Tor Browser once you've confirmed.

Navigate to Prime Market

Paste the onion URL into Tor Browser's address bar and hit Enter. The page might take 5-30 seconds to load — .onion sites are slower than clearnet because traffic bounces through multiple relays. If it doesn't load, wait a moment and try again. If it still doesn't load after a few attempts, the market might be under maintenance or experiencing DDoS. Check back later.

The clearnet alternative is primemarket.link — it routes through Tor automatically but is less private than using the .onion directly.

Register Your Account

Click "Register" on the Prime Market homepage. You'll need:

After registration, you'll receive a mnemonic key (12 words) and an account secret. Write these down on paper. Store them offline. Do not screenshot them, do not paste them in a notes app, do not email them to yourself. If you lose your password, the mnemonic key is the ONLY way to recover your account. Lose that too, and your account — and any funds in it — are gone forever. This is by design, not a bug.

Set Up PGP Encryption

This step is optional for buyers but strongly recommended. For vendors, it's required. PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) encrypts your messages so that even if the market's servers are compromised, your communication stays private. Generate a PGP key using Kleopatra (Windows), GPG Suite (macOS), or gpg command line (Linux). Add your public key to your Prime Market profile. When communicating sensitive info (like shipping addresses), encrypt your messages with the vendor's public key. It takes 10 minutes to set up and could save you from a world of pain later.