Ethereum Researcher Detained in Turkey
On the 10th of August, Federico Carrone, a well-known privacy researcher for Ethereum, was reported to have been detained in Izmir, Turkey, for approximately 24 hours. Carrone, who is also known by his pseudonym Fedes Intern on the online platform X, was allegedly held due to purported connections to a privacy protocol, as well as a crypto mixer research paper released in January 2022.
After his release, he made a public statement explaining he had flown to Izmir to collaborate on a Decentralized Finance (DeFi) initiative but was detained upon arrival at the country’s passport control, restricting his entry. Local law enforcement authorities referred to an ongoing legal case that necessitated the appearance of Carrone in front of a judge.
Allegations for Misusing Ethereum
Carrone alleged that his detention stemmed from accusations filed by the Minister of Internal Affairs. He claimed the authorities charged him with assistance in the misuse of Ethereum, specifically linked to a specific privacy protocol. Hours after his detainment, Carrone’s attorney relayed this information to him.
Showing Support
In an act of solidarity with Roman Storm’s legal defense, Carrone mentioned that he would donate $500,000, adding to the originally committed $50,000 from his LambdaClass venture studio. He argued that supporting innovators in pushing boundaries is essential for progression and pledged community backing for such initiatives. Supporting his notion, a statement was released from the official account of the Ethereum Foundation, pledging to match any further donations made to Roman Storm’s defense up to $500,000, while stating that writing code shouldn’t be regarded as a crime and asserting privacy as a norm.
The Connection to Tutela
Carrone further stated that the incident might have ties to “Tutela,” a research paper he co-authored in January 2022 with eleven other researchers. The research found discernable privacy weaknesses in Ethereum mixers such as Tornado Cash, providing evidence of possible user deanonymization.
He drew attention to the earlier detention of Tornado Cash developer Alexey Pertsev in November, stating that they had received a call with reference to the Tutela report on the same day as Pertsev’s arrest. Carrone was quick to reiterate that the research conducted was solely for academic purposes and not intended to facilitate any unlawful activities.
Criticizing the Prosecution of Open-Source Privacy Tool Developers
In his post-detention commentary, Carrone strongly criticized the criminalization of developers who work on open-source privacy tools. He cited the recent trial of Roman Storm, co-creator of Tornado Cash in New York, who was convicted for running an unlicensed money transmission business. A deadlock was reached regarding money laundering and sanctions charges, sparking Carrone to warn of a potentially worrisome precedent. He stressed that writing code aiming to privatize transactions should not equate to criminal behavior.
Release and Continued Legal Action
Carrone attributes his release to an international effort involving friends, colleagues, and even the Catholic Church from various locations, including the United Arab Emirates, UK, U.S., Europe, and Argentina. These supporters contacted Turkish officials and secured imperative legal help, expediting his liberation.
Carrone is now reported to be back in Europe yet with an evidently ongoing case in Turkey. He has partnered with local legal representatives to further comprehend the charges laid against him, expressing readiness to travel back to Turkey if necessary to vindicate his name.
The Road Ahead
Even as Carrone made his way back to Europe, he candidly admitted to not having a complete understanding of the circumstances that led to his detention. He expressed his intent to assemble a proficient team to tackle the ongoing legal ordeal and find resolution.
While attempts for reaching out to Carrone for more detailed information about the incident have so far been unfruitful, the news about his ordeal continues to circulate, raising concerns about the freedom and implications of cryptocurrency research and innovation.
