Ethereum Developer “Fede’s Intern” Detained in Turkey Over Vague ‘Misuse’ Allegations

An Argentine blockchain developer known as “Fede’s Intern” has found himself locked up by the Turkish authorities for allegedly misusing Ethereum.

The developer, who specializes in zero-knowledge technology and Ethereum infrastructure, described the charges as unfounded and maintains that his work has always centered on building open-source blockchain infrastructure—not enabling illicit activity.

Fede’s Intern revealed that Turkey’s Minister of Interior was personally behind the accusations, and local officials have since confined him to a private room while preventing him from leaving the country.

On social media, he declared his innocence,stating "We are just infra builders." He also added that he had roped in his legal team to help him with the case, and may soon be able to leave the country, headed to Europe.

The specifics of the charges remain unclear, and no formal legal documents have been made public. This lack of transparency has sparked concern and skepticism across the global crypto community, with users pointing out that Turkish law does not specifically address “Ethereum misuse” and that there may be “zero legal basis” for such detention.

Others have suggested that misunderstandings or translation errors about blockchain infrastructure could be at play.

Fede’s Intern is reportedly associated with crypto investment firm Lambda Class and blockchain solutions provider Aligned.

Meanwhile, several prominent figures in the Ethereum ecosystem have publicly expressed support, calling for due process and warning about the chilling effect that vague or poorly defined legal charges could have on blockchain innovation and open-source development.

As of now, the situation is fluid. Fede’s Intern has indicated he will share additional details once he is safely out of Turkey and gets the green light from his attorneys.

The case underscores the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape for digital assets and the growing legal uncertainties faced by blockchain engineers worldwide.