Detainee of Turkish authorities releases Ethereum developer Fede following a 24-hour confinement in Turkey
In the heart of the crypto world, an unfolding drama is taking shape. Fede’s Intern, an Ethereum developer, is currently detained in Izmir, Turkey, facing allegations from Turkish authorities that he helped individuals to "misuse" the Ethereum blockchain [1][2][3][5].
The Turkish Minister of Internal Affairs personally made the accusation, but no specific legal statutes or clear evidence have been publicly disclosed. This legal ambiguity has caused concern within the Ethereum community and broader crypto space, as it raises questions about the potential implications for blockchain developers worldwide [1][3][4].
Fede's Intern, who focuses on open-source Ethereum and zero-knowledge privacy protocols, denies any wrongdoing. He and his team are "just infrastructure builders," he asserted, not engaged in criminal activity [1][2][3][5]. Currently, he is held in a private room with access to food and legal counsel. He has expressed openness to cooperate with Turkish authorities and possibly other jurisdictions [1][2][3][5].
Meanwhile, plans for his travel to Europe by private jet to contest the charges with his legal team are underway, though details remain fluid. He has promised to share more concrete updates once outside Turkey and after consulting his legal team [1][2][3][5].
This case echoes that of Roman Storm, another developer facing charges related to privacy tools. Notably, Chris Carrone, an early Ethereum contributor, donated $500,000 worth of Ether to Storm's legal defense, ten times the amount his investment firm Lambda Class had initially planned to contribute [2]. Carrone's case underscores a broader push by authorities to target developers connected to privacy tools.
The situation also mirrors the case of Virgil Griffith, an early Ethereum contributor who served nearly five years in prison in the United States for speaking at a blockchain conference in North Korea. Prosecutors claimed he explained how the country could use cryptocurrency to evade sanctions [2].
Many in the blockchain community warn that prosecuting developers over privacy protocols could make the act of writing code a crime, even when that code can be used legally [2]. This concern is further heightened by the case of Alexey Pertsev, a developer behind the privacy tool Tornado Cash, who was found guilty of operating an unlicensed money transmitter earlier this month and is facing charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and sanctions violations [2].
The crypto community is closely watching the progress of Fede's Intern's case. Carrone, who was also detained, has expressed his readiness to return to Turkey to defend himself once the legal situation becomes clearer [2]. In a Tuesday X post, Carrone emphasised the importance of protecting innovators and building systems that allow their ideas to scale [2].
As of August 21, 2025, the legal case is ongoing with no formal charges publicly detailed. Fede’s Intern is actively fighting the accusations while receiving significant support from the Ethereum and broader crypto development communities [1][3][5].
[1] News Source 1 [2] News Source 2 [3] News Source 3 [4] News Source 4 [5] News Source 5
- Developers in the crypto world are facing increased scrutiny, as shown by the ongoing case of Fede's Intern, an Ethereum developer currently detained in Turkey, who is accused of helping individuals misuse the Ethereum blockchain.
- Chris Carrone, an early Ethereum contributor, donated a substantial amount of Ether to another developer, Roman Storm, after he faced similar charges related to privacy tools, highlighting a broader push by authorities to target developers working on such protocols.
- Despite the legal ambiguity surrounding the case, Fede's Intern maintains his innocence, stating that he and his team are simply infrastructure builders, not engaged in criminal activity.
- As the case of Fede's Intern unfolds, the crypto community, including Ethereum developers, is closely monitoring its progress, emphasizing the importance of protecting innovators and creating systems that allow their ideas to scale.
