US Charges Alleged Dream Market Admin Over $2 Million Crypto Laundering Scheme

US prosecutors have charged German citizen Owe Martin Andresen, accused of being the main administrator of the former darknet marketplace Dream Market, in a major cryptocurrency money laundering case linked to illegal online trade.

According to investigators, Andresen allegedly controlled dormant crypto wallets connected to Dream Market and later moved the funds into newly consolidated wallets between late 2022 and 2025. Authorities claim the money came from commissions earned through illegal drug sales, stolen personal data, counterfeit documents and other criminal services sold on the darknet platform.

Prosecutors said Andresen allegedly used part of the funds to purchase gold bars shipped to Germany through a cryptocurrency service provider. During coordinated searches by German and US law enforcement, officials reportedly seized around $1.7 million in gold bars, more than $23,000 in cash and additional crypto-related assets worth about $1.2 million.

Dream Market Was One of the Largest Darknet Platforms

Dream Market operated from 2013 until 2019 and became one of the world’s largest darknet marketplaces with nearly 100,000 listings at its peak. Authorities said the platform facilitated large-scale sales of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and other illegal drugs using cryptocurrency and Tor-based anonymous services.

Andresen now faces multiple US and German money laundering charges, with each US charge carrying a possible prison sentence of up to 20 years.