Emre Yumlu 
Ethereum core developer Federico Carrone, known as “Fede’s Intern” on X, announced that he was released after being detained in Turkey for 24 hours over alleged links to an Ethereum privacy protocol.
Detention and Allegations Against the Ethereum Developer
Carrone stated that Turkey’s Minister of Internal Affairs accused him of “helping others misuse Ethereum.” He believes this is connected to a January 2022 research paper analyzing user privacy on Ethereum and Tornado Cash. “We never helped anyone engage in illegal activity; it was purely research on mixers and their properties,” he said.
Freedom Through Global Support
Carrone shared that early on, he thought things would go badly after being told his phone would be confiscated and he wouldn’t be able to speak to anyone. However, friends from the UAE, UK, US, Europe, Argentina, and even the Catholic Church stepped in, contacting senior Turkish officials to help secure his release. Members of the Solana ecosystem also offered assistance.
The older I get, the more I believe in the values of the West and religion. When I was younger, I was a naive hacker and anarchist who believed in cypherpunk ideals. I still do. But over time, I’ve come to see that many of the institutions and governments I once criticized are,… pic.twitter.com/CXYCKOXShg
— Fede’s intern 🥊 (@fede_intern) August 11, 2025
Legal Process Still Ongoing
Carrone said he is currently in Europe but the case is still ongoing. His Turkish lawyer is working on his defense, and he noted, “If necessary, once things are clarified, I will return to clear my name.”
Ethereum Support for Storm’s Case
Following his experience, Carrone donated $500,000 worth of Ether to support the legal defense of Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm. “Roman’s defense is important because developers need to know they can push innovation forward and that the community will stand behind them,” he said.
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