TLDR
- Federico Carrone detained in Turkey for alleged links to Ethereum privacy protocol.
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Carrone confirmed his release after 24 hours with help from global supporters.
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He donated $500,000 to Storm’s legal defense amid the situation.
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The case remains unresolved, with Carrone planning to return to Turkey if needed.
Ethereum core developer Federico Carrone, was detained in Turkey for 24 hours after being accused of helping misuse Ethereum’s privacy protocol. Carrone, who is known as “Fede’s Intern” on X, shared the news of his release on social media, confirming that he is “safe and free.”
He believes the incident is linked to his 2022 research paper, which focused on privacy issues surrounding Ethereum and Tornado Cash. The Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs accused Carrone of assisting others in misusing Ethereum’s privacy tools. However, Carrone denied these allegations, stating that his work was purely academic and never aimed at facilitating illegal activities.
Federico Carrone Support from the Global Crypto Community
The situation quickly escalated, and Carrone faced the possibility of further legal complications. Early on, he was told that his mobile phone would be confiscated, and he would have no means of communication.
Despite these threats, Carrone received support from across the globe, with close friends and colleagues stepping in to secure his release.
I’m finally out, safe and free. There was a small moment were things looked very bad but thanks to help from many I got released. Sorry if I didn’t answer every message. I was in calls non stop the last 24 hours with too many people and I only slept two hours.
Yesterday I landed… https://t.co/d54KXELtbC pic.twitter.com/z1c39K1yAS
— Fede’s intern 🥊 (@fede_intern) August 11, 2025
Among those who helped were contacts from the UAE, UK, US, Argentina, and even the Catholic Church. “I will never forget their help and hope to one day give back to everyone who supported me,” Carrone said, acknowledging the crucial role these supporters played in his release.
Tensions Over Privacy Tools and Open-Source Protocols
Carrone’s detention adds to a growing concern about the treatment of crypto developers involved in open-source privacy research.
The case also parallels that of Tornado Cash co-creators, Alexey Pertsev and Roman Storm, who have faced legal challenges over their involvement in privacy-focused protocols.
Carrone’s work on Ethereum’s privacy features—specifically his research on mixers like Tornado Cash—has sparked legal debates. If such actions continue to be criminalized, it could set a concerning precedent for the future of privacy tools in the decentralized finance space.
Federico Carrone Legal and Financial Support for the Community
While Carrone has been released, the case is still ongoing. His Turkish legal team continues to work on the defense, and Carrone remains committed to clearing his name. He stated, “If needed, I will return to Turkey to resolve the matter once everything is sorted out.”
In a show of solidarity with fellow developers facing legal challenges, Carrone donated $500,000 worth of Ether to support Roman Storm’s legal defense. “Roman’s legal defense matters because builders everywhere need to know they can push innovation forward and that the community will stand behind them,” he said in his donation announcement.
Carrone’s case highlights the ongoing tensions between privacy innovation and government regulation. The crypto community remains vigilant, as these inciden
