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By Francisco Rodrigues, AI Boost|Edited by Stephen Alpher
Jul 7, 2025, 1:58 p.m.
- Bitcoin Core developer Jon Atack was briefly arrested but quickly released in El Salvador over a dispute with a neighbor regarding property issues.
- Atack’s neighbor accused him of “violence against women,” which is a criminal offense under El Salvador’s 2012 law.
- He was released after about an hour, with his phone and passport returned.
Senior Bitcoin developer Jon Atack was arrested in El Salvador over the weekend following a dispute with a neighbor, sparking an online flurry of concern before he was freed about an hour later.
Atack, who contributes to Bitcoin Core, posted on microblogging platform X that police confiscated his phone and passport, cutting him off from the outside world and fueling fears in crypto circles.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Law enforcement initially told him he could be sent to a nearby prison, though he avoided that outcome.
The altercation appears tied to a disagreement over property issues rather than Atack’s crypto work. Stacy Herbert, director of El Salvador’s National Bitcoin Office and a vocal supporter of President Nayib Bukele, said Atack’s neighbor accused him of “violence against women.”
Under El Salvador’s 2012 law known as Vida Libre de Violencia para las Mujeres (LEIV), which directly translates to “life free from violence for women,” violent speech and threats against women are criminal offenses.
Atack was released within minutes after being handcuffed, describing the officers as “professional and friendly.” He thanked supporters online, saying, “This was the first time I’ve been in cuffs and God willing also the last time.”
Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk’s full AI Policy.
Francisco is a reporter for CoinDesk with a passion for cryptocurrencies and personal finance. Before joining CoinDesk he worked at major financial and crypto publications. He owns bitcoin, ether, solana, and PAXG above CoinDesk’s $1,000 disclosure threshold.
“AI Boost” indicates a generative text tool, typically an AI chatbot, contributed to the article. In each and every case, the article was edited, fact-checked and published by a human. Read more about CoinDesk’s AI Policy.
