19 Feb 2025

light mode

What is HEX?

What is HEX?

What is HEX: revolutionary crypto industry token or another pyramid scheme?

On this page

Since the inception of HEX in December of 2019, there has always been much controversy around it.  Its supporters, the so-called “Hexicans”, so cultish in their effusive praise of the founder, Richard Heart, while attacking anyone who dares to criticize Heart or  consider HEX to be a fraud. However, the HEX enemies have enough reason to believe that this is a scam.

According to HEX’s official website, the project says that HEX is the first certificate of deposit (CD) running on the blockchain. A certificate of deposit is a common service in traditional banking, where the client locks up the invested funds and the bank pays the client interest for using his money during some period of time . 

A HEX CD works in the same way as in staking since it pays a return to investors who decide to lock up their HEX holdings for some period of time. The one who contributed the most HEX tokens validates the transactions and gets the biggest passive income.

APY (Average Annual Percentage Yield) returns can be as high as 40%. The HEX crypto is minted to pay off existing holders after the expiration of the holding period.

The main goal of Richard Hart’s project is to increase the price of his token and to dominate other assets. The idea is to create a cryptocurrency that will rise faster than Ethereum and Bitcoin.

HEX  is structured so that, as the price of the token increases, the number of payouts will decrease. However, if the price suddenly collapses, token inflation will grow at an accelerated rate because more tokens will have to be created to pay off. But the project promises that the price will rise and users will get high passive income thanks to the generous APY. 

Why is the HEX project considered to be a scam?

The crypto community has a lot of doubts regarding this project for many reasons. One of the reasons is the reputation of its founder. In 2002, Richard Hart was sued by Peacefire.org for violating Washington's spam laws. He also promoted life extension products.

Finally, you can find information that in 2005-2007 the founder of HEX was investigated in Panama. He was suspected of having business with a criminal gang that included robbers, blackmailers, corrupt lawyers and judges. Previously, he had many other pseudonyms – James Hart, J. Richard, Richard Schuler.

Richard Hart is an eccentric crypto blogger with a dark past who has tried to create a cult of personality around himself. He constantly demonstrates his wealth and promises to make others rich. For example, Hart bought the world's largest diamond last year for $4.3 million in crypto.

Mistrust arises both directly to the token itself and to its use. It is not listed on any of the major exchanges and doesn't even have a whitepaper. While real CDs are used by banks to secure mortgages and loans, in Hart's project, tokens are simply temporarily blocked for rewards. Finally, according to opponents of the project, HEX is simply an Ethereum-based token without practical use, created solely to enrich its founder through the bankruptcy of investors, opponents of the project believe.  

In addition, many are discouraged by the statements on the project website that HEX will become better than Bitcoin, that the token's price is rising faster than ever, giving  a large number of bonuses and profit promises etc. Investors see this as a red sign of a scam.

People become more suspicious when they meet fans of this token. The Hexicans are possibly the most passionate and crazy community in all of crypto. Any time anyone criticizes HEX or Richard Heart on Twitter or other social media, an army of Hexicans pop up to attack that person and defend Heart and the project. They resemble bots by repeating the same pitch, stating how amazing and charitable Richard Heart is and how safe HEX is.

The HEX website even has a separate section dedicated to proving that HEX is not legally a scam . And this is the final proof for skeptical investors, as No legitimate project would ever have an entire page explaining how it's not a scam.

Unfortunately, the project continues to function due to the lack of regulation in the crypto sector and the non-compliance of HEX with the legal criteria of the Ponzi scheme.

Peter McCormack, host of The What Bitcoin Did podcast, said on a live stream with Richard Hart that HEX is such an obvious scam that it's either trolling or an art project. To which he replied: “My project may seem like a scam at first sight, but if you dig deeper, you will see that I just want to help people.”

The content on The Coinomist is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial advice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content. Neither we accept liability for any errors or omissions in the information provided or for any financial losses incurred as a result of relying on this information. Actions based on this content are at your own risk. Always do your own research and consult a professional. See our Terms, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers for more details.

Articles by this author
MEMX Files for SEC Approval to List XRP ETF from 21Shares

MEMX Files for SEC Approval to List XRP ETF from 21Shares

The U.S. market is seeing a wave of altcoin ETF applications, and MEMX is the latest player to join in. The exchange has filed a request with the SEC to approve the listing of the XRP ETF introduced by 21Shares, a major name in crypto investment products.

The Coinomist
Bitcoin Bull Run Is Just Starting as Institutions Buy In

Bitcoin Bull Run Is Just Starting as Institutions Buy In

A recent Bernstein report suggests that Bitcoin could soon see strong upward momentum, driven by increasing institutional investments.

Anton Kryshtal
Mystery Coder Burns $7M in ETH—Calls Out Brain-Tech ‘Weapons’

Mystery Coder Burns $7M in ETH—Calls Out Brain-Tech ‘Weapons’

A mysterious figure, Hu Lezhi, has publicly burned millions in ETH, alleging the existence of an underground organization manipulating human consciousness.

Anton Kryshtal
Lawmaker Attacks Trump’s Meme Coin, Musk’s DOGE

Lawmaker Attacks Trump’s Meme Coin, Musk’s DOGE

Democratic Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley has criticized the DOGE agency and Trump’s meme coin, arguing they represent a dangerous shift in financial oversight.

Anton Kryshtal
Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Feb 18, 2025)

Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Feb 18, 2025)

An overview of BTC, ETH, XAUT, and S&P500 charts, and the current cryptocurrency market dynamics.

Artem Khomenko
Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Feb 10, 2025)

Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Feb 10, 2025)

An overview of BTC, ETH, XAUT, and S&P500 charts, and the current cryptocurrency market dynamics.

Artem Khomenko
Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Feb 3, 2025)

Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Feb 3, 2025)

An overview of BTC, ETH, XAUT, and S&P500 charts, and the current cryptocurrency market dynamics.

Artem Khomenko
Solayer: A Cutting-Edge Restaking Protocol on Solana

Solayer: A Cutting-Edge Restaking Protocol on Solana

Solayer expands Solana’s blockchain capabilities through restaking, offering advanced security solutions for dApps. While development started in spring 2024, the project gained significant attention only recently after the LAYER token airdrop.

The Coinomist
How to Bump a Transaction in the Bitcoin Network

How to Bump a Transaction in the Bitcoin Network

Sometimes, Bitcoin transactions can get “stuck,” especially if a low fee was set. In such cases, you might wonder: Why is my Bitcoin transaction stuck?

bitOn
Inside Cryptocurrency Farms: How Digital Coins Are Mined

Inside Cryptocurrency Farms: How Digital Coins Are Mined

Cryptocurrency farms and mining have evolved significantly since Bitcoin launched in 2009. To understand their growth, it helps to look at the broader history of resource extraction.

The Coinomist
From Bulls to Ballers — Why Celebrities Are Flocking to Crypto

From Bulls to Ballers — Why Celebrities Are Flocking to Crypto

Trump’s meme coin isn’t an outlier—it’s part of a broader trend. Back in 2021, celebrities were minting NFTs, and by 2024, they had moved on to personal token launches. The connection between fame and crypto has been growing for years, even if many failed to see it.

Vlad Vovk
Which Macroeconomic Factors Make Crypto Rise or Fall? 

Which Macroeconomic Factors Make Crypto Rise or Fall? 

It happens when you check the market and crypto prices are up or down for no obvious reason. Then you do some research and find out that there are actually reasons outside the crypto space.

Anahit Avetisyan
How Blockchain Helps Combat Disinformation

How Blockchain Helps Combat Disinformation

Fake news has become a global issue, shaping public opinion, fueling social tensions, and even influencing political decisions. With the rise of social media, the spread of misinformation has accelerated, making it increasingly difficult to regulate. However, blockchain technology offers a promising solution in the fight against fake news.

Daryna Nesterenko
Pantera’s Tax Probe: A Wake-Up Call for Crypto Investors

Pantera’s Tax Probe: A Wake-Up Call for Crypto Investors

Dan Morehead, the founder of Pantera Capital, is under investigation by the US Senate Finance Committee (SFC) over $850 million in crypto profits. The key issue is whether he avoided U.S. taxes by moving to Puerto Rico, a well-known tax haven for crypto investors.

Anahit Avetisyan
The Bitcoin Kid’s 2011 Prediction – How Right Was He? 

The Bitcoin Kid’s 2011 Prediction – How Right Was He? 

In May 2011, an unusual video surfaced on YouTube. A 12-year-old boy explained Bitcoin – how it works and what its future might hold.

Anahit Avetisyan
MORE
«Mass Adoption Isn’t About Tech – It’s About Perception». Bitmedia Founder Matvii Diadkov – About RWA, Web3, And Marketing

«Mass Adoption Isn’t About Tech – It’s About Perception». Bitmedia Founder Matvii Diadkov – About RWA, Web3, And Marketing

Matvii Diadkov, founder of Bitmedia, shared with us in an exclusive interview his expert insights on Web3 adoption, impact of GameFi and community-centering tendencies in the market.

The Coinomist
“Satoshi is CIA”: Swedish crypto bro opens up about his Bitcoin journey

“Satoshi is CIA”: Swedish crypto bro opens up about his Bitcoin journey

The first crypto craze took place almost a decade ago. Overnight, many people found out about Bitcoin and its underlying technology, blockchain.

Lesia Dubenko
MORE