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Ethereum Developer Federico Carrone Released From Turkey, Donates $500,000 to Tornado Cash Case
Ethereum Developer – The cryptocurrency development community rallied together this week as Ethereum core developer Federico Carrone was released from Turkish custody after facing allegations related to privacy protocol research, prompting a significant donation to support fellow developers under legal pressure.
International Support Secures Developer’s Freedom
Federico Carrone, widely recognized as “Fede’s Intern” on social media, confirmed his release Monday following a tense 24-hour detention in Turkey. The Ethereum developer faced accusations from Turkey’s Minister of Internal Affairs for allegedly “helping others misuse Ethereum” through connections to privacy protocols.
“I’m finally out, safe and free. There was a small moment where things looked very bad but thanks to help from many I got released,” Carrone shared, revealing the gravity of his situation.
The charges appear linked to a January 2022 research paper examining user privacy on Ethereum and Tornado Cash. Carrone emphasized the academic nature of his work, stating: “We never helped anyone engage in illegal activity, it was purely research on mixers and their properties.”
Global Crypto Community Mobilizes for Developer
The incident highlights a troubling pattern affecting crypto developers working on open-source privacy protocols. Carrone’s situation mirrors ongoing legal challenges faced by Tornado Cash co-creators Alexey Pertsev and Roman Storm, with Storm currently awaiting verdict in a high-profile New York trial.
Initially facing isolation without phone access, Carrone received unprecedented support from friends across the UAE, UK, US, Europe, and Argentina, with some contacts reaching senior Turkish officials. Remarkably, even members of the Solana ecosystem and the Catholic Church offered assistance in securing his release.
$500K Donation Demonstrates Developer Solidarity
Now safely in Europe, Carrone made a powerful statement of solidarity Tuesday by donating $500,000 worth of Ether to Roman Storm’s legal defense fund. This substantial contribution underscores the crypto community’s concern about the precedent these cases might establish.
“Roman’s legal defense matters because builders everywhere need to know they can push innovation forward and that the community will stand behind them when they do,” Carrone explained.
Despite his release, Carrone’s legal battle continues with his Turkish attorney working on his defense. The developer expressed willingness to return to Turkey to clear his name once the situation is resolved, demonstrating his commitment to defending decentralized finance innovation and privacy rights.
