How to access Omega Market

Getting in takes about fifteen minutes the first time, most of which is setting up PGP correctly. After that it is two minutes: open Tor, paste the address, log in. This is the whole process, in the order you should do it, with the mistakes people actually make called out along the way.

Step 1. Get Tor Browser

Download the official Tor Browser from torproject.org. That is the only place to get it from. It works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. There is no iOS version, which is the most common stumbling block for iPhone users. On iOS you need a third-party app that runs Tor, and those vary in quality, so most people just use a laptop for the market.

After you install it, run it once and let it connect. The first launch can take a minute or two while it builds a circuit. Do not judge the market by how slow the very first load feels.

Step 2. Open a mirror

Copy this address and paste it into the Tor Browser address bar:

Press enter. The page comes up over http://, which is correct for an onion service. You will see a short protection page with a spinning symbol. It resolves on its own in a few seconds. The single most common mistake is refreshing it five times in a row, which resets the timer each time. Let it finish.

If this mirror does not respond, the mirrors page lists two more. They all lead to the same store.

Step 3. Set up PGP

Omega requires a PGP key before you can message vendors. This is not optional and it is not a formality. It is the mechanism that keeps your conversations private and lets you prove a message really came from the vendor and not from someone who copied their page.

You generate a key pair, upload the public half to your account, and keep the private half somewhere safe. Most people use the built-in tool in the market or a desktop client like Kleopatra. If you want a plain-language walkthrough of generating and uploading a key, it is covered in the security guide. Do not skip this step and hope for the best. Vendors will not talk to you without it, and you will not be able to read their replies.

Step 4. Register and protect the account

Create an account with a username you are happy to be known by. There is no email requirement and no identity check. The moment the account exists, turn on two-factor authentication. It takes a minute and it is the difference between a lost password and a lost wallet.

Step 5. Fund the wallet and place a first order

Deposit Monero, Bitcoin, or Litecoin into your market wallet. Monero is the native currency and the one we would use. Then place a small first order with an established vendor. Small is deliberate. You are testing the whole chain, from escrow to delivery to confirmation, before you put a meaningful amount at risk. Once that first order completes cleanly, scale up at your own pace.

Deposits and withdrawals carry no extra fee. The only cost in the system is the 5% seller commission, which buyers do not pay.

What can go wrong

• The page will not load. Usually a slow circuit or a dead mirror. Switch mirrors, or wait a few minutes and retry. Do not abandon it after one attempt.
• You typed the address by hand. Any typo is a different site. Re-copy it from this page.
• Your PGP message will not decrypt. You are using the wrong private key or the key was not imported. Check the import before you blame the vendor.
• The deposit is not showing. Crypto deposits need confirmations. Give it time before you open a ticket.

If you are stuck on any of these, the FAQ covers the specifics and the market has a support channel for anything that needs a human.