Turkish Prison Releases Argentine Blockchain Specialist
In a recent turn of events, Federico Carrone, also known by his pseudonym "Fede's Intern," was detained in Izmir, Turkey, on August 10, 2025. The detainment was due to allegations that he facilitated the misuse of the Ethereum network, specifically in relation to privacy protocols like Tornado Cash cryptomixer[1][2][3][4].
Carrone, who is a developer for Lambda Class, was released after 24 hours in detention and confirmed his safety. He has since been focusing on contesting the accusations[1]. His work, he claims, revolves around building blockchain infrastructure and conducting research related to privacy protocols, not aiding illegal activities[5].
The charges against Carrone appear to be connected to a research paper he published in January 2022. The paper assessed user privacy on Ethereum and Tornado Cash[5]. Carrone emphasized that their work was purely research on mixers and their properties, with no intention to assist illegal activity[5].
This arrest is not an isolated incident. Developers involved with open-source Ethereum privacy tools have faced legal challenges in the past, reflecting ongoing tensions between privacy-focused blockchain innovation and regulatory scrutiny[5].
Upon his arrival in Izmir, Carrone was detained at passport control and informed of an entry ban. His company, Lambda Class, initially planned to allocate $50,000 for his legal protection. However, after the incident in Turkey, the amount was increased[4]. As of now, further details about the entry ban and the identity of Carrone's lawyer remain undisclosed.
[1] https://www.coindesk.com/ethereum-developer-detained-in-turkey-over-tornado-cash-allegations [2] https://www.theblockcrypto.com/linked/117528/ethereum-developer-detained-in-turkey-over-tornado-cash-allegations [3] https://www.coindesk.com/ethereum-developer-federico-carrone-released-after-being-detained-in-izmir [4] https://www.theblockcrypto.com/linked/117531/ethereum-developer-fede-released-from-turkish-detention [5] https://www.theblockcrypto.com/linked/117530/fede-intern-tornado-cash-arrest-tensions-between-crypto-privacy-and-regulation
1.The detainment of Federico Carrone, a developer for Lambda Class and well-known figure in the defi and Ethereum technology communities, has sparked general-news discussions about the intersection of crime-and-justice and decentralized finance, following allegations that he facilitated the misuse of Ethereum's privacy tools like Tornado Cash.
2.Despite the ongoing legal challenges faced by privacy-focused Ethereum developers, such as the recent detainment of Carrone in Izmir, Turkey, these individuals continue to conduct research related to decentralized technologies and privacy protocols, emphasizing their work's educational and innovative purpose rather than any intent to aid illegal activities.
