U.S. Indicts Alleged Dream Market Administrator in Money-Laundering Case

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Summary

U.S. prosecutors indicted Owe Martin Andresen, alleged Dream Market administrator “Speedstepper,” on 12 money-laundering counts. Authorities allege he moved marketplace proceeds through crypto wallets and gold purchases; German searches recovered gold, cash and assets.

Key points

  • A U.S. federal grand jury charged Andresen with six international concealment money-laundering counts and six concealment money-laundering counts.
  • Prosecutors allege Andresen operated Dream Market under the handle “Speedstepper.”
  • Prosecutors say he accessed dormant Dream Market cryptocurrency wallets in November and December 2022 and moved funds to new wallets.
  • Authorities allege he used marketplace proceeds to buy gold bars in 2023 and laundered more than $2 million between August 2023 and April 2025.
  • German authorities arrested Andresen under separate money-laundering charges. Searches on May 7, 2026, reportedly recovered about $1.7 million in gold bars, more than $23,000 in cash, and evidence of accounts and wallets holding about $1.2 million in suspected proceeds.

Article Details

Event Type
U.S. indictment of Owe Martin Andresen on 12 money laundering counts, following his arrest in Germany on separate concealment money laundering charges.
Impact
Prosecutors allege Andresen operated Dream Market as “Speedstepper” and laundered more than $2 million between August 2023 and April 2025. German authorities reportedly recovered about $1.7 million in gold bars, more than $23,000 in cash, and evidence of bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets holding approximately $1.2 million in suspected Dream Market proceeds. Andresen faces up to 20 years in prison for each U.S. count if convicted.

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