diff --git a/examples/run-blockchain/index.js b/examples/run-blockchain/index.js
index 6394cb87dd..b10d1c424a 100644
--- a/examples/run-blockchain/index.js
+++ b/examples/run-blockchain/index.js
@@ -5,19 +5,20 @@ const Block = require('ethereumjs-block')
 const Blockchain = require('ethereumjs-blockchain')
 const BlockHeader = require('ethereumjs-block/header.js')
 const VM = require('../../')
-const Level = require('levelup')
+const level = require('level')
+const levelMem = require('level-mem')
 const Account = require('ethereumjs-account')
 const utils = require('ethereumjs-util')
 const BN = utils.BN
 const rlp = utils.rlp
 const testData = require('./test-data')
 // inMemory blockchainDB
-var blockchainDB = new Level('', { db: require('memdown') })
+var blockchainDB = levelMem()
 
 var state = new Trie()
 
 var blockchain = new Blockchain(blockchainDB)
-blockchain.ethash.cacheDB = new Level('./.cachedb')
+blockchain.ethash.cacheDB = level('./.cachedb')
 
 var vm = new VM({
   state: state,
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index a7fc7f4258..0a10158400 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -50,13 +50,11 @@
     "babel-preset-env": "^1.6.1",
     "coveralls": "^3.0.0",
     "documentation": "^8.1.2",
-    "ethereumjs-blockchain": "~3.3.0",
+    "ethereumjs-blockchain": "^3.3.3",
     "ethereumjs-testing": "git+https://github.com/ethereumjs/ethereumjs-testing.git#v1.2.5",
     "ethereumjs-tx": "1.3.7",
-    "level": "^1.4.0",
-    "leveldown": "^1.4.6",
-    "levelup": "^1.3.2",
-    "memdown": "^1.1.0",
+    "level": "^4.0.0",
+    "level-mem": "^3.0.1",
     "minimist": "^1.1.1",
     "nyc": "^12.0.2",
     "standard": "^10.0.0",
diff --git a/tests/BlockchainTestsRunner.js b/tests/BlockchainTestsRunner.js
index 3ae18625d3..8c3426d18d 100644
--- a/tests/BlockchainTestsRunner.js
+++ b/tests/BlockchainTestsRunner.js
@@ -5,13 +5,12 @@ const Trie = require('merkle-patricia-tree/secure')
 const Block = require('ethereumjs-block')
 const Blockchain = require('ethereumjs-blockchain')
 const BlockHeader = require('ethereumjs-block/header.js')
-const Level = require('levelup')
+const level = require('level')
+const levelMem = require('level-mem')
 
-var cacheDB = new Level('./.cachedb')
+var cacheDB = level('./.cachedb')
 module.exports = function runBlockchainTest (options, testData, t, cb) {
-  var blockchainDB = new Level('', {
-    db: require('memdown')
-  })
+  var blockchainDB = levelMem()
   var state = new Trie()
   var validate = false
   // Only run with block validation when sealEngine present in test file
diff --git a/tests/api/runBlockchain.js b/tests/api/runBlockchain.js
index fb9efaea1e..ab1251ccec 100644
--- a/tests/api/runBlockchain.js
+++ b/tests/api/runBlockchain.js
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 const tape = require('tape')
-const Levelup = require('levelup')
-const Memdown = require('memdown')
+const level = require('level-mem')
 const { promisify } = require('util')
 const Blockchain = require('ethereumjs-blockchain')
 const Block = require('ethereumjs-block')
@@ -10,7 +9,7 @@ const StateManager = require('../../lib/stateManager')
 const { createGenesis } = require('./utils')
 
 tape('runBlockchain', (t) => {
-  const blockchainDB = new Levelup('', { db: Memdown })
+  const blockchainDB = level()
   const blockchain = new Blockchain({ db: blockchainDB })
   const vm = { stateManager: new StateManager(), blockchain }
 
diff --git a/tests/api/utils.js b/tests/api/utils.js
index c833960998..e29555acfe 100644
--- a/tests/api/utils.js
+++ b/tests/api/utils.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 const Block = require('ethereumjs-block')
 const Account = require('ethereumjs-account')
-const Level = require('levelup')
+const level = require('level-mem')
 const Blockchain = require('ethereumjs-blockchain')
 const VM = require('../../lib/index')
 
@@ -21,9 +21,7 @@ function createAccount (nonce, balance) {
 }
 
 function setupVM () {
-  const db = new Level('', {
-    db: require('memdown')
-  })
+  const db = level()
   const blockchain = new Blockchain(db)
   const vm = new VM({ blockchain })