On Sunday, Fede’s Intern, an Ethereum developer, was detained in Izmir, Turkey, over accusations that he helped people misuse the Ethereum blockchain network.
According to the Argentine crypto researcher, Turkish authorities told his lawyer that he might face charges over the alleged misuse of Ethereum.
“It’s wrong; we are just infra builders,” he said on X, stressing that his work has always focused on building and not exploiting blockchain infrastructure.
Although he strongly denied the arrest, it became a talking point across the country’s crypto communities.
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Fede’s Intern, who described himself as a businessman operating companies in more than a dozen industries under a European holding company, insisted that all his work is conducted openly and in cooperation with governments.
He argued that privacy is not a crime, and urged authorities to focus on prosecuting actual criminals rather than targeting blockchain developers.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, he reported being treated humanely in custody, placed in a private room, and provided with meals.
Discussions were reportedly underway to arrange his departure to Europe, possibly via private jet, where he intends to continue his legal defense and release more concrete information after consulting with his lawyers, Cryptonews reported.
Meanwhile, the arrest comes amid Turkey’s growing regulatory crackdown on the digital asset sector. Since March, the Capital Markets Board (CMB) has introduced stricter licensing rules for exchanges, custodians, and wallet providers and tighter anti-money laundering (AML) compliance requirements.
In June, the Ministry of Treasury and Finance implemented additional oversight on fund movements in and out of crypto platforms, while in July, Turkish authorities blocked access to the decentralized exchange PancakeSwap — the first such action against a DeFi platform in the country.
Regulators have also warned that other DeFi services could face similar restrictions if found to be marketing directly to Turkish users.
Crypto scams are a growing issue in Turkey
While the current case against Fede’s Intern does not involve fraud, Turkey has seen a notable rise in crypto scams in recent years.
Reports show that fraudulent schemes — from Ponzi-style investments to fake exchange platforms — have targeted seasoned traders and new investors.
This has led authorities to ramp up enforcement efforts, although some argue that legitimate blockchain developers should not be caught in the crossfire.
The country’s push for tighter oversight reflects the popularity of digital assets among its citizens and the risks posed by unregulated platforms.
However, the challenge remains in striking the right balance between protecting consumers and fostering innovation in the blockchain space.