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Ethereum Developer Faces Vague Turkey Accusations
Ethereum Developer Detained in Turkey – An Ethereum blockchain developer known as “Fede’s Intern” was detained by Turkish authorities in Izmir on August 11, sparking outrage across the global crypto community. The Argentine researcher faces allegations of helping people “misuse” the Ethereum network, though specific charges remain unclear.
Vague Accusations Without Clear Evidence
The detained developer revealed on social media that Turkey’s Minister of Internal Affairs personally made the accusations against him. However, no formal documentation or specific legal provisions have been made public, leaving the crypto community questioning the basis for his detention.
Fede strongly denied any wrongdoing, stating his work focused exclusively on building blockchain infrastructure. He emphasized that “privacy is not a crime” and called on authorities to target actual criminals rather than legitimate blockchain developers.
International Support Mobilizes Quickly
The developer, who describes himself as a businessman with companies across more than a dozen industries, immediately reached out to contacts worldwide. He contacted “top people from more than 10 countries” and received support from friends across Europe, the United States, UAE, and Asia.
These international efforts appeared successful, with reports that arrangements were being made for his departure to Europe via private jet. The developer was reportedly moved to better accommodations and served proper food while awaiting resolution.
Crypto Community Reacts With Concern
The detention sent shockwaves through Ethereum and Solana communities. Ryan Sean Adams, a prominent Ethereum advocate, called the situation “very troubling” and noted the irony that Istanbul was being considered for Devcon 2026.
Turkish crypto commentator Cenk argued there was “zero legal basis” for the detention, while others speculated the incident might stem from translation errors or regulatory overreach.
Turkey’s Growing Crypto Crackdown
This incident occurs amid Turkey’s intensifying cryptocurrency regulations. Since March, the country’s Capital Markets Board has implemented strict licensing requirements for crypto exchanges and service providers.
Recent measures include mandatory transaction explanations, withdrawal delays, and blocking access to PancakeSwap – the first decentralized exchange targeted by Turkish regulators.
