Ethereum core developer Federico Carrone, known as “Fede’s Intern” on X, was released after a 24-hour detention in Turkey over allegations related to his research on Ethereum privacy protocols.
Carrone was detained in Izmir, Turkey, under unclear circumstances. Carrone announced his release on Monday via an X post, stating, “I’m finally out, safe and free. There was a small moment where things looked very bad but thanks to help from many I got released.”
Turkey’s Minister of Internal Affairs allegedly accused Carrone of “helping others misuse Ethereum,” reportedly referring to a January 2022 research paper he co-authored. He clarified, “We never helped anyone engage in illegal activity; it was purely research on mixers and their properties.”
The incident highlights a growing legal pressure on crypto developers working on privacy tools, particularly following cases involving Tornado Cash co-creators Alexey Pertsev and Roman Storm. Storm currently awaits trial in New York in a case that could establish precedent for criminalizing privacy-focused open-source development.
Storm’s case could set a precedent in the U.S., potentially criminalizing privacy-focused open-source development and threatening decentralized finance innovation.
Carrone described initial concerns about phone confiscation and isolation during detention, according to his account. Community support from contacts across multiple countries, including the UAE, the UK, the United States, Europe, and Argentina, facilitated his release through connections with Turkish officials.
Following his release, Carrone donated $500,000 in Ether to support Roman Storm’s legal defense. Carrone, posted a selfie and stated in an X post that, “I will never forget it. I hope to be able to give back to all of those that helped me.”
The case remains unresolved, with Carrone’s Turkish attorney building a defense. “We still don’t have the full picture of what happened or why it happened, but we will bring in the best team we can and resolve this,” he stated, expressing willingness to return to Turkey to clear his name.
Carrone emphasized that “Roman’s legal defense matters because builders everywhere need to know they can push innovation forward and that the community will stand behind them.”
