An Ethereum developer operating under the pseudonym "Fede's Intern" has been detained in Izmir, Turkey, facing allegations from the Turkish Interior Ministry that he facilitated the "misuse" of the Ethereum blockchain. The developer, who denies all charges, stated via X (formerly Twitter) that authorities informed his lawyer he could face formal accusations for allegedly enabling illicit activities through Ethereum's infrastructure—a claim he refutes by asserting: "We are just infra builders; everything we do is in the open."
The detainee described himself as a businessman with companies across over a dozen industries, headquartered in Europe and collaborating with governments globally. He has mobilized senior contacts in more than 10 countries (including the U.S., UAE, and European nations) to advocate on his behalf. A legal team is preparing his defense, and he may soon depart Turkey via private jet to contest the allegations internationally. The developer delayed publicizing his detention due to anticipated skepticism and legal advice but emphasized he has "nothing to gain by inventing" the situation.
This incident draws parallels to the 2024 detention of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan in Nigeria, fueling debates about governmental overreach against blockchain professionals. Key questions remain unresolved: the definition of Ethereum "misuse," whether charges target the developer personally or his companies, and if the detention relates to Turkey's broader crackdown on crypto activities. The crypto community speculates translation errors or regulatory misunderstandings may underlie the allegations, highlighting urgent concerns about legal clarity for developers worldwide.