Richard Heart Faces International Manhunt Amid Multiple Legal Crises

The crypto world is reeling as Richard Heart, founder of the Hex blockchain project, finds himself in unprecedented legal turmoil. Interpol’s issuance of a Red Notice represents a significant escalation, signaling that authorities across multiple jurisdictions are coordinating efforts to locate and apprehend the prominent figure.

The Red Notice: What It Means

Interpol’s Red Notice—distinct from an actual arrest warrant—serves as a global alert system requesting law enforcement agencies worldwide to track down Richard Heart. Finnish authorities initiated this action based on allegations spanning tax evasion and physical assault. The notice places Heart on Europe’s most-wanted fugitives list, where prosecutors have documented specific accusations including an alleged assault on a minor.

According to Finnish public records, Heart allegedly “physically assaulted a 16-year-old victim by grabbing their hair, dragging them into the stairwell and knocking them to the ground.” The tax evasion allegations specifically target the period between June 2020 and April 2024, with Finnish tax authorities claiming Heart’s reported income substantially underreported his actual earnings.

Timeline of Legal Escalation

The Red Notice announcement came three months after initial remand proceedings against Heart commenced on September 13. Helsinki detectives, including Harri Saaristola, have been investigating significant discrepancies between Heart’s tax filings and what authorities believe represents his actual income during the alleged period.

Despite mounting pressure, Richard Heart has remained notably silent on official channels, though he has continued posting on social media platforms. His recent posts appear to contain veiled references to his legal situation, with statements about critics and success that some interpret as indirect commentary on his circumstances.

The Parallel SEC Battle

Adding complexity to Heart’s legal challenges is an ongoing Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit alleging unregistered securities offerings. The SEC claims Richard Heart raised over $1 billion through improper channels involving three crypto projects: Hex, PulseChain, and PulseX. Regulators argue these tokens were marketed “as a pathway to grandiose wealth for investors” without proper registration.

In August, Heart’s legal team attempted to have the $1 billion SEC lawsuit dismissed, but the commission successfully opposed the motion, asserting it possesses full jurisdictional authority to pursue the case. The regulatory battle continues to unfold as discovery proceedings advance.

Implications for the Crypto Sector

Richard Heart’s situation underscores the ongoing tension between crypto entrepreneurship and global regulatory frameworks. The convergence of international law enforcement action (Interpol), regional authorities (Finnish police), and federal regulators (SEC) demonstrates how the crypto industry operates within increasingly complex legal environments.

The case remains unresolved as Heart’s whereabouts and response to the international notice remain unclear. The broader implications for how projects like Hex, PulseChain, and PulseX continue operating amid their founder’s legal troubles could have lasting effects on investor confidence and regulatory approaches to emerging blockchain projects.