HEX and Pulsechain Creator Arrested in Turkey Amid Tax Probe

WHO:

Bitcoinist - Richard Heart, founder of HEX and PulseChain, was detained.

Techmeme - Heart's wife and three bodyguards were also detained.

WHAT:

Bitcoinist - Richard Heart was detained in connection with a Finnish tax investigation.

Techmeme - Turkish police seized over $7 million in cash and six cold wallets during the detention.

Techmeme - The price of HEX fell nearly 50% following the initial reports of Heart's detention.

Techmeme - Searches conducted during the detention turned up guns, ammunition, watches, and jewelry.

WHERE:

Bitcoinist - The detention occurred in Istanbul, Turkey.

WHEN:

Techmeme - Richard Heart was detained on October 14.

WHY:

Bitcoinist - The detention is related to an ongoing Finnish tax investigation.

HOW:

Techmeme - Turkish police conducted the detention and searches that led to the seizure of cash and items.

(UPDATED October 17, 2026 23:56 UTC)

Richard Heart, the founder of HEX and PulseChain, was detained in Istanbul, Turkey, as part of an ongoing Finnish tax investigation. Along with Heart, his wife and three bodyguards were also taken into custody, and Turkish police seized over $7 million in cash, six cold wallets, and various luxury items during the operation. Following the news of Heart's detention, the price of HEX plummeted nearly 50%.