Dream Market holds the distinction of being the longest-running major darknet marketplace in history. Operating from late 2013 until April 2019, it survived every major law enforcement operation of its era and ultimately closed on its own terms—a rarity in the darknet ecosystem.
Market Overview
- Operating Period: Late 2013 - April 30, 2019
- Lifespan: ~5.5 years (unprecedented)
- Administrator: "Speedsteppers"
- Peak Rankings: #1 globally (2017-2018)
- Closure: Voluntary shutdown
Dream Market launched in the immediate aftermath of Silk Road's seizure but initially operated in its shadow. While flashier markets like Evolution and Agora dominated headlines, Dream quietly built reliability and trust.
Rise to Dominance
Post-Operation Bayonet
Dream Market's ascent to the top came after Operation Bayonet (July 2017) destroyed AlphaBay and Hansa. With both major competitors gone, Dream became the default destination.
Key Success Factors
Reliability
Consistent uptime when competitors suffered constant DDoS attacks.
Low Profile
Avoided flashy announcements and kept operations quiet.
Fair Disputes
Reputation for reasonable dispute resolution.
Multi-Coin
Early adoption of Bitcoin Cash and Monero.
Challenges Faced
DDoS Attacks
From 2017 onward, Dream faced relentless DDoS attacks, sometimes lasting weeks. The attacks were believed to be:
- Competitor-sponsored disruption
- Extortion attempts
- Potentially law enforcement pressure
Mirror Phishing
Fake "Dream Market mirrors" proliferated, stealing user credentials. The admin team maintained a verified list of legitimate .onion addresses.
Law Enforcement Pressure
The Planned Shutdown
On March 26, 2019, Dream Market's admin announced the market would close on April 30, 2019.
"After consultion with our vendors and staff,
Dream Market will close on April 30th."
"We recommend users to transfer to a partner market
that we trust."
"All funds and messages will be deleted."
Partner Market Controversy
Dream recommended users migrate to a "partner market" that was later revealed to be suspicious. Some speculated this was either an exit scam in disguise or a law enforcement honeypot. Users who transferred lost funds when the "partner" immediately exit scammed.
What Made It Different
- Users had 5 weeks to withdraw funds
- Vendors could complete pending orders
- Site remained functional until deadline
- No sudden disappearance with funds
Legacy
Why Dream Mattered
- Longevity record: Proved markets could survive years
- Graceful exit model: Showed administrators could close responsibly
- Low-profile strategy: Demonstrated value of avoiding attention
- Survived competitors: Outlasted Silk Road, SR2, Agora, Evolution, AlphaBay, Hansa
To this day, Dream Market's administrator "Speedsteppers" has never been publicly identified or arrested. Whether this represents exceptional OPSEC, law enforcement cooperation, or simply luck remains unknown.