Key highlights:
- Ethereum developer Federico Carrone detained over 2022 privacy research.
- He was released within 24 hours following international pressure and support.
- Carrone donates $500K ETH for Tornado Cash creator’s legal defense.
Turkish authorities detained Ethereum developer Federico Carrone for 24 hours due to a cryptocurrency privacy research paper he published three years ago.
The Turkish Interior Minister accused him of “helping others misuse Ethereum,” citing his 2022 study on the Tornado Cash mixer, a service designed to improve transaction privacy.
Federico Carrone took a selfie after his release from Turkish authorities. Source: Federico Carrone
Carrone, known on social media as “Fede’s Intern,” clarified after his release,
“We never helped anyone engage in illegal activity, it was purely research on mixers and their properties.”
I’m finally out, safe and free. There was a small moment were things looked very bad but thanks to help from many I got released. Sorry if I didn’t answer every message. I was in calls non stop the last 24 hours with too many people and I only slept two hours.
Yesterday I landed… https://t.co/d54KXELtbC pic.twitter.com/z1c39K1yAS
— Fede’s intern 🥊 (@fede_intern) August 11, 2025
International intervention leads to release
Initially, authorities aimed to confiscate Carrone’s phone and cut off his communication.
However, swift mobilization of friends and colleagues from countries including the UAE, USA, UK, Europe, and Argentina, along with support from the Solana ecosystem and the Catholic Church, led to his release within 24 hours.
Carrone expressed gratitude, stating on social media that the help he received saved him from dire circumstances.
A broader context of privacy protocol scrutiny
The case is part of a global trend targeting privacy protocol developers. Tornado Cash creators Alexey Pertsev and Roman Storm remain under investigation, with Storm awaiting a significant New York court ruling that could criminalize privacy tools.
Showing solidarity, Carrone donated $500,000 in Ethereum toward Storm’s legal defense, underscoring the community’s commitment to innovation and support.
Image source: Etherscan
Carrone’s legal team is actively working toward his full rehabilitation. He has indicated willingness to return to Turkey to resolve the matter and clear his name once legal processes permit.
Source:: Ethereum Developer Federico Carrone Detained in Turkey Over Tornado Cash