Ethereum News Today: Ethereum Developer Donates $500,000 to Roman Storm Defense After Turkish Detention

Ethereum core developer Federico Carrone, who was detained for 24 hours in Turkey in early August 2025, has pledged $500,000 to Roman Storm’s legal defense fund. The donation, a significant increase from an initial $50,000, was announced on social media, where Carrone explained that his experience with Turkish authorities over alleged links to a privacy protocol influenced his decision to support Storm’s legal battle [1]. Carrone, known within the community as “Fede’s intern,” was detained in Izmir and questioned about a 2022 research paper titled Tutela, which examined privacy vulnerabilities in Ethereum-based mixers such as Tornado Cash [1]. After pressure from international contacts, he was released and returned to Europe.

The Ethereum Foundation has pledged to match Carrone’s donation up to an additional $500,000, effectively doubling the impact of the contribution [1]. Roman Storm, a co-founder of the Tornado Cash cryptocurrency mixer, was found guilty by a New York jury on one count of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitter, while the jury deadlocked on two other charges. This outcome has left the door open for a potential retrial and continues the legal uncertainty surrounding the case [1]. As of the latest reports, Storm has raised approximately $5.4 million for his defense, with contributions from the Golem Foundation and the Ethereum Foundation [1].

Carrone emphasized that privacy research should not be conflated with criminal activity, arguing that the act of writing code to enhance transaction privacy does not equate to engaging in illegal behavior [1]. His donation reflects a broader sentiment within the Ethereum ecosystem that open-source development should be protected from overreach by legal systems that are struggling to define the boundaries of digital innovation [1].

The situation underscores a growing divide between global regulators and the decentralized technology community, particularly around the classification of privacy-preserving tools in blockchain. While Carrone has not yet resolved the legal case against him in Turkey, he has stated that he is working with legal counsel to understand the charges and remains prepared to return if necessary [1]. The case highlights the risks that developers face when engaging in research that challenges the status quo in financial systems and data privacy. It also illustrates the solidarity among blockchain developers, who are increasingly willing to support one another in legal and public battles over the future of decentralized technology.

Source: [1] The Defiant (https://thedefiant.io/news/people/fedes-intern-released-in-turkey-donates-usd500k-to-roman-storm-defense)