An Argentine Ethereum developer known online as “Fede’s Intern” has been detained in Izmir, Turkey, after authorities accused him of helping individuals “misuse” the Ethereum network.
Fede disclosed the incident on August 11 via X, stating that Turkish officials informed his lawyer of the allegation, which he called “obviously wrong.” He insisted his work is limited to building blockchain infrastructure and denied any involvement in illegal activities.
I’m in Turkey, Izmir. They are telling my lawyer that I helped people to misuse @ethereum and I might have a charge. You can imagine what it means. It’s obviously wrong, we are just infra builders.
I can’t say much because I don’t have information and I don’t know if I will…
— Fede’s intern 🥊 (@fede_intern) August 10, 2025
According to Fede, Turkey’s Minister of Internal Affairs personally made the claim, though no formal charges, documents, or specific laws have been cited. The scope of the alleged “misuse” remains unclear. “Privacy is not a crime,” Fede wrote, urging authorities to focus on prosecuting criminals rather than targeting blockchain developers or infrastructure providers.
The developer, who says he operates businesses in more than a dozen sectors under a European holding company, claimed he has reached out to contacts in over 10 countries. He suggested that diplomatic efforts were underway to allow him to leave Turkey and contest the allegations abroad. At one point, he reported being moved to a private room, served food, and told arrangements were in motion for a private jet flight to Europe.
The case has sparked concern across Ethereum and Solana communities. Ethereum advocate Ryan Sean Adams called the detention “very troubling,” noting the irony that Istanbul had been floated as a possible Devcon 2026 venue. Turkish crypto commentator Cenk argued there was “zero legal basis” for holding someone over such claims.
While some industry observers suspect a translation error or misunderstanding of blockchain infrastructure, others warn it may be a sign of regulatory overreach. Fede said he will release more information after returning to Europe and consulting with his lawyers, though he remains open to cooperating with Turkish authorities.
The detention comes amid Turkey’s tightening grip on the digital asset sector. In March, the Capital Markets Board (CMB) introduced a licensing framework requiring exchanges, custodians, and wallet providers to maintain detailed transaction records, send monthly account statements, and process orders only via approved channels.
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