Senator Charles Schumer asked federal law enforcement authorities to shut it down, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Department of Justice. In June 2011, Gawker published an article about the site which led to an increase notoriety and website traffic. Two other individuals were also closely involved in the site's growth and success, known as Variety Jones and Smedley. Silk Road was operated by the pseudonymous "Dread Pirate Roberts" (named after the fictional character from The Princess Bride), who was known for espousing libertarian ideals and criticizing regulation. The name "Silk Road" comes from a historical network of trade routes started during the Han Dynasty (206 BC – AD 220) between Europe, India, China, and many other countries on the Afro-Eurasian landmass. In November 2020, the United States government seized more than $1 billion worth of bitcoin connected to Silk Road. Federal Court in Manhattan and was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. Ulbricht was convicted of seven charges related to Silk Road in the U.S.
It was also shut down, and the alleged operator was arrested on 6 November 2014 as part of the so-called " Operation Onymous". On 6 November 2013, Silk Road 2.0 came online, run by former administrators of Silk Road. In October 2013, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) shut down the website and arrested Ross Ulbricht under charges of being the site's pseudonymous founder "Dread Pirate Roberts". Silk Road provided goods and services to over 100,000 buyers. Later, a fixed fee was charged for each new seller account. Initially there were a limited number of new seller accounts available new sellers had to purchase an account in an auction. The website was launched in February 2011 development had begun six months prior. As part of the dark web, it was operated as a Tor hidden service, such that online users were able to browse it anonymously and securely without potential traffic monitoring. Silk Road was an online black market and the first modern darknet market. Silk Road 2.0 shut down by FBI and Europol on 6 November 2014. New URL: silkroad7rn2puhj.onion (defunct) Old URL: silkroad6ownowfk.onion (defunct) Ross Ulbricht ( pseudonym Dread Pirate Roberts)