Richard Heart, founder of HEX and PulseChain, was detained in Istanbul during a joint operation by Turkey's National Intelligence Organization and police. Authorities seized approximately $4 million in cash, 64 luxury watches including Rolex and Patek Philippe timepieces, firearms, ammunition, and electronic equipment. Heart's wife was also taken into custody during the raid. The U.S. SEC previously accused Heart of raising over $1 billion through unregistered securities offerings and misappropriating at least $12 million for luxury purchases, though the lawsuit was dismissed in 2025 on jurisdictional grounds. Finnish authorities are also seeking Heart on suspicion of serious tax evasion and assault.