Who is Federico Carrone, the Ethereum Developer? Core Developer Released After Abduction in Turkey
ETH programmer Federico Carrone, referred to as “Fede’s Intern” on X, has been freed after a 24-hour detention in Turkey due to alleged connections to an 
ETH ▲0.45% privacy platform.
“I’m finally out, secure and free. There was a brief moment when everything seemed very bleak but thanks to assistance from many, I was released,” — Federico Carrone, X post
Carrone claimed that Turkey’s Minister of Internal Affairs charged him with “assisting others in misusing ETH,” which was reportedly linked to a January 2022 research document analyzing ETH privacy and Tornado Cash mixers.
“We never helped anyone partake in unlawful activities; it was solely research on mixers and their functionalities,” Carrone informed reporters.
Who is Ethereum Developer Federico Carrone? Allegations and Global Intervention
Carrone, involved in ZK and Ethereum infrastructure development, reported that he was detained in Izmir and alerted to possible charges, although he maintained that his businesses function transparently and collaborate with European governments.
It required intervention from contacts in more than 10 nations, industry associates, and representatives from the Catholic Church to persuade Turkish officials to secure his release.
“They aimed to confiscate my phone considering it a security threat, but thanks to calls from some friends, they refrained,” Carrone stated.
Bankless co-founder Ryan Sean Adams labeled the incident as “very concerning,” highlighting potential implications for Istanbul’s DevCon 2026 aspirations.
DISCOVER: Next 1000X Crypto: 10+ Crypto Tokens That Can Hit 1000x in 2025
I have decided to contribute $500K to @rstormsf’s legal defense. Initially, we intended to donate $50K, but after my experience, I must take a clear stance so everyone understands what @class_lambda represents.
I understand that the @ethereumfndn will match donations up to…
— Fede’s intern
Carrone’s detention is part of a rising trend of prosecutions aimed at developers of open-source privacy technologies.
Tornado Cash founders Alexey Pertsev and Roman Storm are confronting comparable allegations. Storm’s impending verdict in New York could set a precedent for criminalizing privacy technologies in DeFi.
On Tuesday, Carrone committed $500,000 in ETH to Storm’s legal defense. In digital currency terms, that signifies reaffirming support for the release of innocent developers.
DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025
Federico Carrone Prepared to Return to Turkey to Exonerate Himself
Carrone is currently in Europe, yet he mentions that his legal team is in Turkey addressing the case.
“We still lack a complete understanding of what transpired or the reasons behind it, but we aim to assemble the best team possible and resolve this,” Carrone stated. “If necessary, once matters are sorted, I will return to vindicate my reputation and defend myself.”
This situation highlights an escalating legal gray area for crypto developers working with privacy-centric infrastructure—an area increasingly scrutinized by governments globally.
EXPLORE: XRP Price Jumps 11% After SEC Crypto Unit Tease XRP ETF Progress
Key Takeaways
- ETH programmer Federico Carrone, known as “Fede’s Intern” on X, has been released after a 24-hour detention in Turkey.
- Carrone’s detention contributes to an increasing wave of legal actions against developers of open-source privacy solutions.
The article Who is ETH Developer Federico Carrone? Core Dev Freed After Kidnap in Turkey originally appeared on 99Bitcoins.
![[LIVE] Recent Crypto Updates, August 12 – Ethereum ETFs Achieve $1 Billion Inflow: Which Altcoin Is the Best Purchase?](https://i1.wp.com/99bitcoins.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_0844-300x208.png?w=770&resize=770,470&ssl=1 "[LIVE] Recent Crypto Updates, August 12 – Ethereum ETFs Achieve $1 Billion Inflow: Which Altcoin Is the Best Purchase?")
