What Is HEX?
HEX is an Ethereum token that positions itself as a blockchain certificate of deposit (CD) based on a rewards system. Similar to traditional CDs, HEX holders can stake batches of HEX tokens for specified periods, earning HEX rewards upon completion. Users receive more HEX if they wait to redeem the token, incentivizing them to hold it for long periods of time.
Key Takeaways
- HEX is an Ethereum token that marketed itself as the first blockchain certificate of deposit using aggressive tactics that dangled improbably high returns.
- HEX promised HEX holders with financial rewards if they held onto and didn't sell the token for long periods of time.
- The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged the founder of HEX with defrauding investors and selling unregistered securities connected to the HEX ecosystem.
HEX's model rewards token holders, not miners or validators. Users stake their HEX by committing to hold their tokens for predetermined periods. Upon completion, they receive their staked funds plus an interest payment or HEX reward. Staking periods range from one to 5,555 days, with longer stakes yielding higher rewards.
Staking mechanisms burn HEX tokens, generating "T-Shares" for users. Longer stakes receive more T-Shares, each accruing daily interest in HEX. HEX's value is designed to increase by a maximum of 3.69% annually, rewarding users who have already staked their tokens. Penalties are imposed on premature withdrawals.
HEX claims its monetary policy and energy consumption is superior to Bitcoin's, with capped annual inflation paid directly to HEX holders and a "Proof-of-Wait" consensus mechanism that is less energy-intensive than Bitcoin's Proof-of-Work (PoW) protocol. However, at one point, bitcoin and ether holders could claim HEX tokens for free.
HEX was launched in December 2018 by Richard Heart, a crypto entrepreneur who was involved in the early days of online marketing and email spamming under a previous name, Richard James Schueler. Heart, then known as Schueler, developed various techniques for spamming mass emails and generating online leads, resulting in a lawsuit against him, which he lost.
Why Is HEX Controversial?
In 2019, Heart announced PulseChain, a project he claimed was a fork of the Ethereum blockchain meant to address scalability and security issues with Ethereum. Heart purported Pulsechain was designed to be compatible with HEX, and that HEX holders would be able to migrate their tokens to PulseChain. Heart also claimed PulseChain would feature a built-in decentralized exchange (DEX) called PulseX to allow users to trade HEX and other tokens.
The relationship between PulseChain, PulseX, and HEX is complex and has been the subject of much debate, much of it accusing PulseChain and PulseX of resembling Internet scams or Ponzi schemes. Some have argued that PulseChain and PulseX are not legitimate projects, but simply a way for Heart to control the HEX ecosystem. Heart's promotional style, when marketing HEX, PulseChain, and PulseX, has been criticized for using aggressive marketing and making exaggerated claims.
Heart has acknowledged that the project employs "tactics a scam might use." HEX has boasted of returns as high as 11,500% in advertisem*nts and “price appreciation that overperforms as much and as fast as possible.” Meanwhile, HEX's developers have set numerous lofty and potentially unrealistic goals for the project, claiming they want HEX to replace gold as a store of value and to eliminate the need for credit card and payment companies.
Additionally, in July 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Heart, accusing him of failing to register HEX, PulseChain, and PulseX as securities and defrauding investors about where their money went. The lawsuit alleges that Heart raised over $1 billion from investors through unregistered securities offerings and misappropriated at least $12 million of investor funds to purchase luxury goods, including sports cars, watches, and a 555-carat black diamond known as "The Enigma."
In November 2023, the SEC said it was having issues serving Heart with the lawsuit's complaint, a procedural step necessary for the case to proceed in court. The SEC had sought assistance from the Finnish Ministry of Justice, given Heart's residency in Finland. However, the SEC had not yet received confirmation from the Finnish government that Heart had been served.
How Do You Buy HEX?
To buy the HEX cryptocurrency token, users must buy PLS, a token named after PulseChain, then exchange the PLS for HEX using MetaMask, a cryptocurrency wallet that functions like a browser extension.
Is PulseChain Legitimate?
There is evidence to suggest that PulseChain, a purported HEX-compatible blockchain, is a real project that is being developed. For example, full-time developers contribute to a public Github repository for the PulseChain code, the project has a roadmap with clear milestones, and several test networks have been launched. However, there are also some concerns about the legitimacy of PulseChain. For example, the project has been delayed several times, and there is no clear timeline for its release.
Where Are HEX and Pulsechain Now?
Heart has denied the SEC's allegations and is fighting the charges in court. Since the SEC filed its complaint, the release of PulseChain has been delayed indefinitely. Prior to the lawsuit, HEX's market capitalization had collapsed to $622.19 million as of September 2023, when it traded around $0.008, down more than 99% from a peak of $84.4 billion in September 2021, when it traded around $0.118.
The Bottom Line
HEX is an Ethereum-based cryptocurrency marketed as a replacement for certificates of deposit but designed with no use case other than storing value in hopes of speculative returns. HEX's creator, Richard Heart, was charged by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for selling HEX as an unregistered security and misappropriating HEX investors' money to buy luxury items.
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