Ethereum core developer Federico Carrone, known as 'Fede's Intern,' confirmed his release after being detained for 24 hours in Turkey on suspicion of connections to Ethereum privacy protocols.
Carrone posted on X stating: 'I am finally out safe and free. Although there were brief moments when the situation was not good, I was released with the help of many.'
According to him, the Turkish Interior Minister accused him of 'helping others abuse Ethereum,' suspected to be related to a research paper from January 2022 that assessed the user privacy of Ethereum and Tornado Cash.
This incident has heightened concerns about the detention of crypto developers related to open-source privacy protocols. A similar situation occurred with Tornado Cash co-founders Alexey Pertsev and Roman Storm, who are awaiting a final verdict in a high-profile trial in New York.
Carrone safely sought help in Europe
Carrone is currently in Europe, revealing that the initial situation was not optimistic, as he was told his phone would be confiscated and he would have no contact with the outside world. Fortunately, his friends and even religious figures intervened, contacting high-ranking Turkish officials to facilitate his release.
"I will never forget their help and hope to repay all those who have supported me one day."
Carrone is willing to return to Turkey to resolve the issue
The case is still ongoing, and Carrone stated that his Turkish lawyer is handling the defense of this case. He hopes to resolve the issue with a better team and, if necessary, return to Turkey to defend himself.
Carrone donated to Storm's legal defense
To support Storm's legal defense, Carrone announced a donation of $500,000 worth of ETH, emphasizing that 'supporting innovative developers requires assurance that the community will stand behind them.'
