The Block reports that Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek confirmed Hex and PulseChain founder Richard Heart was detained in Istanbul on Oct. 14. Heart, whose legal name is Richard James Schueler, was detained with his wife in the Beşiktaş district, according to Gürlek. Three men identified as Heart's bodyguards were detained later.
Gürlek said Istanbul police intelligence and financial-crimes units carried out the operation with support from Turkey's National Intelligence Organization. The investigation was overseen by Istanbul's chief prosecutor's office.
What police say they seized
Police searched 15 addresses across Beşiktaş, Üsküdar and Sarıyer, Gürlek said. He reported that investigators seized $7.15 million in cash, 160,000 Turkish lira and six cryptocurrency cold wallets. The inventory also included four long-barreled rifles, three unlicensed pistols, 1,400 rounds of ammunition, 28 watches, 97 pieces of jewelry, 300 bags and computer equipment.
The minister said judicial proceedings and examination of the seized materials were continuing. Authorities have not disclosed what the cold wallets contain or what, if anything, the assets are worth.
The Finnish notice and an unresolved next step
Heart has been the subject of an Interpol Red Notice issued on Finland's behalf since December 2024. Finnish authorities sought him on suspicion of gross tax evasion and assault, The Block reported. Bitcoin News notes that a Red Notice asks law-enforcement agencies to locate a person pending possible extradition; it is not an international arrest warrant and does not establish guilt.
The Turkish detention is separate from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's civil case against Heart. A federal judge dismissed that case in February 2025 on jurisdictional grounds, and the SEC declined to amend its complaint in April. Gürlek did not say whether Turkey had received an extradition request, and no extradition filing or court outcome had been publicly confirmed.
