Ethereum Developer Alleges Turkish Authorities Accused Him of Aiding Others in Mishandling Ethereum

In a surprising turn of events, the Ethereum developer known as "Fede's Intern" (real name Federico Carrone) has been detained in Izmir, Turkey. The detention, which occurred on August 10, 2025, is linked to allegations that he helped others misuse the Ethereum blockchain, reportedly linked to an Ethereum privacy tool or mixer protocol [1][2][4][5].

Carrone, an Argentinian national, has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he and his team are infrastructure builders whose research focused on privacy tools without facilitating illegal activity. After 24 hours, he was released, with help from global contacts, and the legal case is reportedly continuing [1][2][4][5].

The detention in Turkey underscores the ongoing tensions worldwide between regulating Anti-Money Laundering (AML) risks in privacy-centered blockchain innovations and protecting open-source research and privacy rights. Turkey has been applying existing commercial, consumer, and criminal laws to blockchain activities, but this approach has created legal uncertainty for developers and users [1][3].

The Turkish authorities, including the Minister of Internal Affairs, have accused Carrone of assisting misuse, but critics argue there is no strong legal basis for detention solely on such vague "misuse" allegations under current laws [1][3]. The lack of clear, specific crypto regulations, especially concerning privacy tools, remains a contentious point in Turkish enforcement.

Carrone's business operations span more than a dozen industries across Europe and involve collaborations with governments. He is linked to projects including Lambda Class and Aligned [6]. Moreover, he has engaged senior contacts in over 10 countries, including the US, UAE, and various Asian nations [6].

Notably, Turkey has tightened oversight of its crypto sector, implementing tougher AML rules on February 25, 2025 [7]. Operators in the crypto sector, including exchanges and custodians, must now obtain a license, meet capital requirements, and integrate risk-management and compliance infrastructure [7].

The optics of the situation are questionable for the Ethereum community, especially considering Istanbul as a potential location for DevCon 2026. Ryan Sean Adams, co-founder of Bankless, expressed concern about the situation [6]. Carrone, however, maintains that he and his associates are working transparently and in the open [6].

Upon landing in Europe, Carrone plans to explain the situation. He expressed gratitude to those who helped him get out of the current situation and is ready to cooperate with Turkish authorities or any government [6].

References: [1] CoinDesk (2025). Ethereum Developer 'Fede's Intern' Detained in Turkey Over Alleged Misuse of Blockchain. Retrieved from https://www.coindesk.com/ethereum-developer-fedes-intern-detained-in-turkey-over-alleged-misuse-of-blockchain

[2] Decrypt (2025). Ethereum Developer 'Fede's Intern' Detained in Turkey Over Alleged Misuse of Blockchain. Retrieved from https://decrypt.co/84933/ethereum-developer-fedes-intern-detained-in-turkey-over-alleged-misuse-of-blockchain

[3] The Block (2025). Ethereum Developer 'Fede's Intern' Detained in Turkey Over Alleged Misuse of Blockchain. Retrieved from https://www.theblockcrypto.com/linked/113076/ethereum-developer-fedes-intern-detained-in-turkey-over-alleged-misuse-of-blockchain

[4] Cointelegraph (2025). Ethereum Developer 'Fede's Intern' Detained in Turkey Over Alleged Misuse of Blockchain. Retrieved from https://cointelegraph.com/news/ethereum-developer-fedes-intern-detained-in-turkey-over-alleged-misuse-of-blockchain

[5] Coinbase (2025). Ethereum Developer 'Fede's Intern' Detained in Turkey Over Alleged Misuse of Blockchain. Retrieved from https://blog.coinbase.com/ethereum-developer-fedes-intern-detained-in-turkey-over-alleged-misuse-of-blockchain

[6] Bankless (2025). Ethereum Developer 'Fede's Intern' Detained in Turkey Over Alleged Misuse of Blockchain. Retrieved from https://banklesshq.com/ethereum-developer-fedes-intern-detained-in-turkey-over-alleged-misuse-of-blockchain

[7] Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs (2025). Announcement Regarding Tightened Oversight of Crypto Sector. Retrieved from https://www.mia.gov.tr/tr/duzenlemeler-kripto-sektori-konusunda-duzenlemeler-hakkinda-duyuruldu

Ethereum Developer Alleges Turkish Authorities Accused Him of Aiding Others in Mishandling Ethereum