Web portal
Alt Variety was initially envisioned to launch with a Dark Web portal incorporated directly into the website interface of altvariety.com by employing a tor emulator to encrypt user data via the surface web. The concept was discussed with Silk Road marketplace founder Ross Ulbritch, but Ulbritch, perhaps fortuitously, declined partnering with Alt Variety. In lieu of a dark web portal, Alt Variety instead launched with a craigslist-like surface web community marketplace called the alt marketplace. Despite being heavily clad with disclaimers and warnings to its users the alt marketplace became a pre Backpage outlet for illicit posts