Turkey confirms Richard Heart was detained, says 7150000 USD and cold wallets were seized

AT A GLANCE

Turkey's justice minister said Hex and PulseChain founder Richard Heart were detained; judicial proceedings and examination of the seized items are ongoing.

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[Turkey confirms Hex founder Richard Heart arrested; 7150000 USD and six cold wallets seized]

Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek confirmed on Saturday that Ethereum ecosystem token Hex and PulseChain founder Richard Heart was detained in Istanbul. Gürlek wrote on X that Heart, whose real name is Richard James Schueler, was detained with his wife during an operation in Istanbul's Beşiktaş district on Wednesday; police subsequently detained individuals identified as his bodyguards. The operation was carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office jointly with the city's police intelligence and financial crimes units, with support from Turkey's intelligence agency MİT. Gürlek said police searched 15 addresses across the districts of Beşiktaş, Üsküdar, and Sarıyer, seizing 7150000 USD in cash, cold wallets, 160000 Turkish lira, 28 watches, 97 pieces of jewelry, 300 bags, and 19 graphics cards, as well as long-barreled rifles, unlicensed handguns, and 1400 rounds of ammunition. Gürlek said judicial proceedings and examination of the seized items are ongoing. Turkey's national news agency Anadolu separately reported that police seized vehicles registered in Heart's wife's name. According to CoinGecko data,Hex fell by approximately 24 over the past 14%. Gürlek linked Heart's red notice to 1000000000 USD cryptocurrency fraud allegations involving the United States and Finland. The notice was issued in 2024 December at Finland's request, with Finnish authorities seeking his arrest on suspicion of aggravated tax evasion and assault. In the United States, a federal judge dismissed the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's lawsuit against Heart on jurisdictional grounds in 2025 February, and the agency decided in April not to refile the lawsuit.

Key points

Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek confirmed on Saturday that Richard Heart was detained in Istanbul.
The original report states that Richard Heart is the founder of Hex and PulseChain, and that his real name is Richard James Schueler.
Gürlek said Heart was detained with his wife in Istanbul's Beşiktaş district on Wednesday, and additional individuals identified as his bodyguards were subsequently detained.
The original report states that the operation was carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office jointly with the city's police intelligence and financial crimes units, with support from Turkey's intelligence agency MİT.
Gürlek said police searched 15 addresses across districts, seizing 7150000 USD in cash, cold wallets, and other items.
Gürlek said judicial proceedings and examination of the seized items are ongoing.
Anadolu reported that police seized vehicles registered in Heart's wife's name.
According to CoinGecko data,Hex fell by approximately 24 over the past 14%。
Gürlek linked Heart's red notice to 1000000000 USD cryptocurrency fraud allegations involving the United States and Finland.
The original report states that the notice was issued in 2024 December at Finland's request, with Finnish authorities seeking Heart's arrest on suspicion of aggravated tax evasion and assault.
The original report states that a U.S. federal judge dismissed the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's lawsuit against Heart on jurisdictional grounds in 2025 February, and the agency decided in April not to refile the lawsuit.

AI-assisted interpretation

The following is analysis, separate from reported facts. Verify important claims independently.

This is a report concerning the detention of a crypto-project founder and the seizure of assets. Cold wallets are devices that store credentials for accessing crypto assets offline; their seizure does not establish the ownership, amount, or ultimate disposition of the assets they contain. The fraud, tax-evasion, and assault matters mentioned are all allegations or suspicions and do not establish guilt.

Why it matters to readers

Richard Heart The founder identity of Hex、PulseChain and Hex is directly relevant; therefore, the detention, judicial proceedings, and examination of items may increase uncertainty surrounding the projects' reputation, governance, and disposition of related assets. The original report also states that 24 fell by approximately over the past 14%。

Beginners should distinguish between being detained or accused and being convicted by a court, and should note that judicial events involving founders can bring sharp price volatility, information confusion, and asset-disposition risks. Decisions should not be made solely on the basis of a single retelling.

Risks and unknowns

The materials do not include original links to a statement by the Turkish Minister of Justice, judicial documents, or Anadolu reporting, and therefore cannot be independently verified within this evidence.
The specific charges against Heart following the detention, custody status, and subsequent judicial arrangements are not specified.

Turkey confirms Richard Heart was detained, says 7150000 USD and cold wallets were seized

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