- Blockchain developer “Fede’s intern” claims he is being detained in Izmir, Turkey, over allegations of helping others “misuse Ethereum,” which he denies.
- The Argentinian coder says he will share more details after leaving the country, while some in the crypto community question the legal basis for his detention.
A well-known blockchain developer, known online as “Fede’s intern,” claims he has been detained by Turkish authorities over accusations of helping others “misuse Ethereum.” The developer, who identifies as Argentinian and specializes in zero-knowledge (ZK) cryptography and Ethereum infrastructure, posted about the alleged detention on Sunday via his account on X.
So we now have more information. The minister of internal affairs of Turkey is saying I helped people misuse @ethereum. I’m fully open to cooperate with any authorities from Turkey or any country, we didn’t help anybody do anything, but we will also defend ourselves.
— Fede’s intern 🥊 (@fede_intern) August 10, 2025
According to his posts, the incident took place in the city of Izmir, where he says Turkey’s Minister of Interior accused him of facilitating Ethereum-related misconduct. He described the accusations as “obviously wrong,” insisting that his work focuses on building blockchain infrastructure rather than enabling illicit activity.
We are just infra builders,he wrote, adding that he is willing to cooperate with the authorities to clear up the matter.
Fede’s intern further stated that he is receiving assistance from his legal team and hopes to leave Turkey soon, possibly heading to Europe. However, he said he will withhold additional details about the incident until he is safely out of the country and his lawyer authorizes him to speak.
Skepticism From the Crypto Community
While his claims have sparked concern among followers, some members of the online crypto community have expressed doubts. A user going by “0xCenk” questioned the legal basis for detaining someone on such charges, stating there is “zero legal basis” for the accusations.
Not sure if you’re intentionally misleading the CT crowd or it’s a lost in translation moment. There is zero legal basis for being detained on “helping people misuse Ethereum” as the country largely uses existing commercial code, consumer law and Penal code for crypto cases.
— Cenk (@0xCenk) August 10, 2025
In response, Fede’s intern dismissed the idea that he was fabricating the story, saying, “I don’t know what the heck I win by inventing that this happened to me.”
Connections to Ethereum and ZK Projects
Publicly available information from his X profile shows that Fede’s intern has ties to several crypto-related organizations. These include Lambda Class, an investment and software development firm, and Aligned, a blockchain solutions company.
His work reportedly centers on zero-knowledge proofs, a cryptographic method that can enhance privacy and scalability on blockchains such as Ethereum.
At present, it remains unclear what Turkish authorities mean by “misusing Ethereum” or how his work is allegedly connected to the charges. The lack of transparency has fueled speculation, with some suggesting the incident could be a misunderstanding related to blockchain technology’s complexity.
Awaiting Official Responses
Notably, no official statements have been released at the time of writing.
If the claims are accurate, the case could raise questions about how blockchain developers are perceived by authorities, especially in jurisdictions where regulatory frameworks for cryptocurrencies are still evolving. For now, the situation remains murky, with the crypto world awaiting further details from Fede’s intern once he secures his release from Turkey.
