I didn't know Alphabay, it was a bitcointalker from the local French forum who mentioned it. Given the fate of Ross Ulbricht (imprisoned then recently released against all odds) and Alexandre Cazes (dead at 26), whose businesses lasted around 2 and a half years each before the final downfall, I wondered why they didn't stop sooner, when they were already very rich.
i do not think they were just in it for the money they are running operations that could have been sustained for a long time if the authorities had not been aware of what they are doing
plus money is never permanent and even rich ones need to keep working to make sure they don’t run out of it
What motivates these people, who have become criminals, to continue their business when in the end they live in extreme danger?
simply money mate they are brave enough to do anything or rather greedy enough to earn