Hold onto your crypto wallets, folks, because things are heating up in the world of blockchain drama! Richard Schueler, better known as Richard Heart, the mastermind behind Hex cryptocurrency, is now making headlines for all the wrong reasons. The Finnish authorities have thrown the book at him, claiming he skipped out on paying taxes from 2020 to 2024, allegedly dodging dues worth hundreds of millions of euros. Yikes!
And it doesn't stop there—Heart has found himself on Interpol's global radar, courtesy of a Red Notice issued by Finland. Now, this isn’t an international arrest warrant, but it's a serious call to law enforcement worldwide to track him down. And just when you think it couldn’t get more intense, Heart also snagged a spot on the European Union’s Most Wanted List for these same charges.
The Finnish folks are accusing the 45-year-old of not filing his business tax returns and conveniently forgetting to mention some income on his personal returns. They say he pocketed business income that should have been declared, leading to a jaw-dropping tax bill that rivals some countries' GDPs. And if that wasn't enough drama, there's an allegation of assaulting a minor in Finland hanging over his head.
Amidst these swirling allegations, Heart hasn’t directly responded to the Red Notice. But in true Heart fashion, he took to social media with a cryptic post, seemingly throwing shade at his critics while boasting about his hefty $27 million in charitable contributions. “Why settle for being wanted when you can be the most wanted?” he cheekily quipped, highlighting his efforts to better the world through medical research, self-help books, and P2P publishing software.
But wait, there’s more! Heart is also locked in a legal showdown with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Back in 2023, the SEC came knocking, accusing him of unregistered securities sales and fraud. They allege he raised over a billion dollars through unsanctioned crypto sales, promising sky-high returns on Hex, a “blockchain certificate of deposit.” Unfortunately, for investors, the token’s value nosedived by 98.4% from its peak.
The SEC isn’t done yet—they also claim Heart raised a cool $354 million for PulseChain development but splurged it on personal luxuries instead. Heart fired back with a motion to dismiss the case in January 2024, but the SEC wasn't having any of it, insisting that the motion didn’t address the accusations properly.
So, as the drama unfolds, will Richard Heart's story end with a twist, or is he in for a financial and legal rollercoaster ride? Stay tuned, because in the world of crypto, you never know what’s coming next!
