Cybercriminals are selling the Wuhan coronavirus on the dark web for 0.005 BTC per dose.

According to the blockchain data analysis company Chainalysis, at a seminar held yesterday, it was pointed out that in the current global crisis, criminals are selling blood samples claiming to be infected with the Wuhan coronavirus on the dark web. Each sample is priced at 0.005 BTC, equivalent to around 1,000 NTD.

Cybercrime Affected by the Pandemic

In addition to the traditional financial markets and the cryptocurrency market being affected by the pandemic, even the dark web's trading market is not immune to this global crisis. Chainalysis, a blockchain data analytics company, held a webinar yesterday discussing the current situation of the dark web market, and how cybercriminals are using cryptocurrencies and COVID-19 to deceive the public, extort healthcare workers, spread misinformation, and profit unlawfully during this crisis.

According to Chainalysis data, following the major drop on March 13th, the amount of Bitcoin sent to fraudulent addresses significantly decreased, indicating that even non-mainstream dark web markets or online scams are affected by this crisis.

On the other hand, participants on the dark web have shown two starkly different reactions in this global crisis - some adhere to their principles, while others continue to lower their already minimal moral standards.

Discovery of COVID-19 Seller on the Dark Web

During the webinar, Chainalysis pointed out that a seller was offering blood containing the COVID-19 virus on the dark web. The seller claimed that the blood was extracted from their hospitalized father and had been injected into bats, pricing each bat with the virus at 0.005 BTC. It is currently unclear whether the seller is actually selling the virus or if it is simply a scam.

However, not all dark web participants lack moral boundaries. Chainalysis noted that many dark web markets have explicitly prohibited the sale of any products claiming to be "cures for COVID-19," and the administrators of the ransomware DoppelPaymer stated that they will not target hospitals during this critical time.

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