In Izmir, Turkey, Ethereum developer known as “Fede’s Intern” has been detained after local authorities accused him of allegedly assisting in the “abuse” of the Ethereum network. Fede has strongly denied the charges, calling them entirely unfounded, and claims his work has always focused solely on building blockchain infrastructure — never on illegal activity.
Vague Charges and Political Pressure
According to Fede, the accusations claim he helped people misuse Ethereum. However, no formal documents or specific legal provisions have been disclosed so far. He says the allegations came directly from Turkey’s interior minister but without any details.
Fede responded: “Privacy is not a crime. Authorities should go after real criminals, not developers and blockchain users.”
Support From Around the World
The developer stated that friends and colleagues from Europe, the U.S., the United Arab Emirates, and Asia are actively working on his case. He says there are indications he might be able to leave Turkey and fight the allegations from abroad.
Shortly after being detained, Fede was moved to a private room, given food, and preparations reportedly began for his private jet flight to Europe.
The news of his arrest quickly spread through the crypto community — from Ethereum to Solana — sparking sharp reactions. Ryan Sean Adams, a well-known Ethereum advocate, called the case “deeply concerning” and noted the irony that Istanbul had been a potential host city for Devcon 2026.
Turkey’s Crackdown on Crypto Intensifies
The incident comes as Turkey is dramatically tightening its cryptocurrency regulations:
🔹 March 2025 – The Capital Markets Board (CMB) introduced strict licensing requirements, mandatory monthly statements, detailed transaction records, and stringent operational rules for exchanges and wallet providers.
🔹 June 2025 – The Ministry of Finance added further oversight, including a mandatory 20-character description for every transaction, withdrawal delays, and limits on stablecoin transfers.
🔹 July 2025 – CMB blocked access to the decentralized exchange PancakeSwap for the first time, warning that similar restrictions could target other DeFi platforms and non-custodial wallets.
What’s Next?
Fede has promised to share more detailed information upon his return to Europe and says he is willing to cooperate with Turkish or foreign authorities. For now, Turkish officials have issued no official statement, and it remains unclear whether formal charges will be filed.
The case is becoming another test of how far governments can go in targeting developers and innovators in the crypto industry — and where the line lies between regulation and political pressure.
#Ethereum , #CryptoNews , #blockchain , #cryptoregulation , #defi
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