Ethereum core developer Federico Carrone, also known as “Fede’s Intern,” has confirmed his freedom after being detained for 24 hours by the Turkish authorities.
Carrone explained he was delayed at passport control upon arrival in Izmir, where police informed him that he could not enter the country and would need to appear before a judge.
The arrest reportedly followed accusations by Turkey’s Minister of Internal Affairs that Carrone had “helped others to misuse Ethereum” in connection with a privacy protocol.
Carrone, who strongly denies the accusations, stated that he traveled to Turkey for meetings with builders, DeFi counterparts, and potential investors, as well as exploring opportunities in the domestic wine industry.
Claims Connected to Tornado Cash Research
For Carrone, the allegations traced back to a January 2022 research report he co-authored on Ethereum privacy protocols, namely Tornado Cash.
The study, Tutela, examined deanonymizing mixer users as an exercise in theory, proving it was possible to trace the money on the type of platforms they operate on.
Carrone has emphasized his work did not suggest constructing privacy tools or enabling criminal activity.
He made comparisons with the accusations of faulting software writers for what other individuals can do with their code, stressing that “writing code to keep transactions private doesn’t make you a criminal.”
He further noted that the timing and style of his arrest have something in common with those of Tornado Cash developers Alexey Pertsev and Roman Storm, whose court fights could determine the fate of open-source privacy tools.
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Release Secured Through International Support
Carrone revealed that in detention, he was told that his phone would be confiscated and he would be transferred elsewhere until charges were laid.
He said that his friends and colleagues in several other countries acted very quickly to arrange for his release, ringing senior Turkish officials on his behalf, from the UAE, UK, US, EU, Argentina, and the Catholic Church.
Even Solana officials were reportedly approached to offer some contacts and assistance.
With all these efforts combined, Carrone retained his phone and was released, shortly thereafter departing Europe.
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Current Legal Case and Willingness to Return to Turkey
Although now under European protection, Carrone emphasized that his case remains open. His attorney in Turkey is actively taking steps to defend him, and the full charges remain undetermined.
When the situation has been sufficiently clarified, Carrone said he will return to Turkey to clear his name and defend himself.
He was confident in his British counsel and intended to bring the best experts on the matter to find a solution.
While discerning between the uncertain, Carrone maintained an optimistic view of Turkey and its people, stating he considers several of his closest friends there to be Turkish and hopes to develop partnerships there in the future.
Broader Implications for Crypto Privacy and Open-Source Development
The detention of Carrone marks a turning point in the dramas played by regulators and developers in the cryptosphere, Tornado Cash being one such protocol of the privacy-enhancing variety.
Legal commentators have warned that criminalizing acts of contributing to an open-source code can create a dangerous precedent that will curtail innovation for decentralized finance and infringe upon the right to privacy.
The increase in public scrutiny directed toward the trials of other privacy tool developers is important because these trials may represent the watershed moment that begins to define where exactly the law begins opposing software development.
In recent times, Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm was found guilty by a jury for one count, out of three for which he was tried.
For Carrone, it is a further reminder of the shifting global dynamics, but he is firm that neither he nor any member of his team will waver in their pursuit of cryptography, cybersecurity, and AI.
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