The darknet has had an undeniable impact on the growth of cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin saw most of its first use cases thanks to the darknet. Unfortunately, this also means Bitcoin and some other cryptocurrencies will always be associated with criminal activity, especially over the internet.
Monero falls victim to the same stereotypes, even though it makes more sense to use that currency on the darknet compared to Bitcoin. Then again, Monero is so much more than a tool for cybercriminals.
Every type of money that provides either privacy, anonymity, or both will always be associated with criminal activity. Fiat cash is perhaps one of the more obvious examples of this.
Every relevant TV show, movie, or book mentions how criminals will only accept cash as it leaves no trace. Using bills and coins is quite cumbersome when moving them in large quantities, though. Bags filled with money will always attract the attention of law enforcement.