September 22, 2026: one of retail's most controversial systems is open for business in the beta. Icy Veins' Neryssa scanned the Black Market Auction House operating in Powderfuse Port (Riverglades) under agent Madam Swyndle, with days of observed listings:
- Companion pets (Disgusting Oozeling, Black Tabby) from 100g
- TCG items (Tabards of Frost and Flame, Carved Ogre Idol) from 100g
- Tier 0 pieces, any slot, from 400g
- Rare mounts (Deathcharger's Reins) from 3,000g
The purpose reads retail-standard: a gold sink with bid wars. The tension writes itself: no GDKP (banned) and permaban threats for buyers, but a bid-war market for rare mounts running in a goblin port. One drains gold through play, the other moved it between players; Blizzard kept the house and closed the tables.
SOURCES: Icy Veins Neryssa (Sep 21, beta scan with screenshots).