HTX: licences, security, fees and reviews
Centralized exchange
Visitor ratings: do you like HTX?
Key facts
- Type
- Centralized exchange
- Exchange launched
- 2013
- Formerly
- Huobi
- Official site
- htx.com
Key facts checked on 29 October 2026 against official sources and regulator registers.
What is HTX
HTX, formerly Huobi, is a centralised crypto exchange founded in 2013 that rebranded in September 2023. It offers spot trading, fiat and P2P trading, derivatives, HTX Earn, staking and loan services, and has its own token, HTX.
Good to know
- The user agreement does not name one operating company. It refers to "HTX Operators", which may include companies, DAOs and unincorporated teams, and says these may change. ↗
- The user agreement is governed by the laws of Pakistan; disputes go to arbitration at the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, seated in Hong Kong. ↗
- Pakistan's regulator PVARA announced on 12 December 2025 that it granted HTX a no-objection certificate (NOC). PVARA says an NOC is not a licence to provide virtual asset services. ↗
- HTX's licences page also lists "payment and remittance services" in South America, without naming the country, the legal entity or the regulator. ↗
- Paying spot fees with the HTX token lowers them: the base tier is 0.20% maker and taker, or 0.15% when fees are paid with HTX. ↗
- In May 2023 Malaysia's Securities Commission ordered Huobi Global Limited to stop operating in Malaysia and to disable its website and apps there. ↗
- The UK regulator FCA started High Court proceedings on 21 October 2025 against Huobi Global S.A., a Panama company, and unnamed persons running htx.com, over crypto promotions to UK consumers. The FCA calls it its first such case against a crypto firm. ↗
- Although the user agreement bars UK users, the FCA said on 10 February 2026 that HTX had taken steps to restrict new UK sign-ups but that existing UK users could still log in. ↗
- Derivatives are closed to users from Taiwan, Israel, Iraq, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Ecuador, Kyrgyzstan and New Zealand, in addition to the jurisdictions barred from all services. ↗
- Client crypto is held on a custodial basis and kept apart from HTX's own assets by ledger entries only; HTX is not obliged to use separate blockchain addresses for each client or for itself. ↗
Services
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Spot trading | Spot trading since September 2013, with cross margin mode added in November 2019. |
| Derivatives | Coin-margined and USDT-margined perpetual and delivery futures. |
| TradFi Zone | A TradFi Zone launched in 2026, which HTX describes as bridging traditional finance and crypto. |
| Margin | Cross margin mode for spot trading. |
| Copy trading | Futures copy trading since September 2022. |
| Staking / Earn | HTX Earn (flexible and fixed products), recurring investment, staking and loans. |
| Fiat / P2P trading | Fiat and P2P trading since May 2018; fiat deposits and withdrawals are provided by third parties under their own terms. |
| Own token | HTX token; pledged and burned tokens exceed 11% of supply per HTX. |
Licences and registrations
| Jurisdiction | Entity | Licence / registration | Regulator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | — | No-objection certificate (NOC) announced by PVARA on 12 December 2025; PVARA says an NOC is not a licence | Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) |
| South America | — | Payment and remittance services, as listed on HTX's own licences page; the country, legal entity and regulator are not named | — |
Status in the United States and the United Kingdom
- HTX has been on the FCA Warning List since 8 October 2023; the entry, last updated on 11 February 2026, covers htx.com and also names Huobi Global and Huobi. The FCA states that the firm is not authorised by it and may be targeting people in the UK. FCA Warning List
- On 21 October 2025 the FCA started proceedings in the Chancery Division of the High Court against Huobi Global S.A., a Panama company, and persons unknown who run htx.com. On 4 February 2026 the court let the FCA serve the claim abroad and by alternative means. FCA, HTX (formerly Huobi): legal proceedings information
- Announcing the case on 10 February 2026, the FCA called it its first enforcement action against a crypto firm for illegally marketing to UK consumers. It said HTX had since restricted new UK sign-ups, while existing UK users could still log in. FCA press release, 10 February 2026
- In the New York Attorney General’s Virtual Markets Integrity Initiative report of 18 September 2018, Huobi Global Limited is listed among four platforms that said they did not allow trading from New York and declined to take part. New York Attorney General, VMII report (2018)
- HTX’s own user agreement (last updated September 2026) bars users from the United States and the United Kingdom, among other jurisdictions, from all of its services. HTX Platform User Agreement
Checked on 29 October 2026 against regulator registers and the text of the law.
Proof of reserves as of 1 October 2026
| Asset | Reserve ratio |
|---|---|
| BTC | 104.0% |
| ETH | 102.0% |
| TRX | 108.0% |
| Stablecoins (combined) | 104.0% |
| USDT | 64.0% |
Method: Monthly Merkle tree proof of reserves on the HTX website; stablecoins are reported as one combined group, with each stablecoin also shown separately. Reserves include balances HTX reports as held with third parties (thirdPartyBalance) as well as wallet balances. ↗
Security and audits
- HTX integrated Fireblocks Off Exchange in May 2024.
- HTX introduced 100% proof of reserves in December 2022, according to its own milestones; its Proof of Reserves page says reports are published monthly.
- Digital assets in accounts are held on a custodial basis; per the user agreement, title stays with the user, who bears the risk of loss.
- Client assets are segregated from HTX's own by separate ledger entries, not necessarily by separate blockchain addresses.
Fees
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Spot maker | 0.20% (base tier Prime0); 0.15% when paid with HTX |
| Spot taker | 0.20% (base tier Prime0); 0.15% when paid with HTX |
| Coin-margined futures | 0.02% maker, 0.05% taker (base tier Prime0) |
| USDT-margined futures | 0.02% maker, 0.06% taker (base tier Prime0) |
| Withdrawals | Network (miner) fees, calculated by HTX and shown before the transaction is authorised |
Who can use it
- Verification: Services are available after registration and identity verification.
- Prohibited for users from mainland China, the United States, the United Kingdom, all EU member states, Hong Kong, Singapore, Russia, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Myanmar, Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Sevastopol.
History
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 2013 | Launched with spot trading. |
| 18 September 2018 | In the New York Attorney General's Virtual Markets Integrity Initiative report, Huobi Global Limited said it did not allow trading from New York and declined to take part. |
| December 2022 | Introduced 100% proof of reserves (per HTX's milestones). |
| 22 May 2023 | The Securities Commission Malaysia publicly reprimanded Huobi Global Limited and its CEO Leon Li for operating a digital asset exchange in Malaysia without registration and ordered it to stop operating there. |
| September 2023 | Rebranded as HTX on its 10th anniversary. |
| 8 October 2023 | The FCA added HTX (htx.com, also Huobi Global and Huobi) to its Warning List on 8 October 2023, stating that the firm is not authorised by it and may be targeting people in the UK. |
| January 2024 | HTX DAO established. |
| 13 June 2024 | Austria's FMA warned investors about HTX / Huobi (www.htx.com), stating that the provider is not authorised to conduct banking services in Austria that require a licence. Spain's CNMV listed the warning on 11 September 2024. |
| 21 October 2025 | The FCA started proceedings in the High Court (Chancery Division) against Huobi Global S.A. and persons unknown who run htx.com. |
| 12 December 2025 | Pakistan's PVARA announced no-objection certificates (not licences) for global exchanges including HTX. |
| 2026 | Launched a TradFi Zone, which HTX describes as bridging traditional finance and crypto. |
| 10 February 2026 | The FCA announced that it had begun legal proceedings against HTX (formerly Huobi) over illegal promotion of cryptoasset services to UK consumers. |
| 20 October 2026 | The FCA case page, updated on 20 October 2026, lists further court orders in the case, the most recent dated 14 October 2026. |
Risks and caveats
- The user agreement does not name a single operating company; the operators may include DAOs or unincorporated teams and may change.
- Not available in the United States, the United Kingdom, the EU, Russia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and other listed jurisdictions.
- Malaysia's Securities Commission ordered Huobi Global to stop operating in Malaysia on 22 May 2023.
- HTX's licences page lists a Pakistan NOC and unnamed South America payment services; of the regulators checked on 29 October 2026, only PVARA has announced an approval (an NOC on 12 December 2025, which is not a licence; its current status was not confirmed).
- HTX has been on the FCA Warning List since 8 October 2023, and the FCA is suing Huobi Global S.A. and unnamed operators in the High Court; the FCA says HTX hides the identities of its owners and website operators.
- HTX does not itself handle fiat deposits or withdrawals; fiat services on the platform come from third-party providers under their own terms.
About the company
- Legal entity
- "HTX Operators" — the parties running the platform, which may include companies, DAOs and unincorporated teams
- Founded
- 2013 (exchange launched with spot trading in September 2013)
- Formerly
- Huobi (HTX dates its rebranding to September 2023)
- Own token
- HTX
- Defendant in UK case (2025)
- Huobi Global S.A., a company incorporated in Panama, together with persons unknown
- Named in Malaysian action (2023)
- Huobi Global Limited and its chief executive at the time, Leon Li
Official links
- Website: www.htx.com
- Fees: www.htx.com/fee
- Proof of reserves: www.htx.com/en-us/proof-of-reserve
- Licences: www.htx.com/global-licensed-businesses
- Terms of use: www.htx.com/support/en-us/detail/360000298561
Questions and answers
Is HTX regulated?
Pakistan's regulator PVARA announced on 12 December 2025 that it granted HTX a no-objection certificate, which is not a licence; its current status was not confirmed by PVARA as of 29 October 2026. The UK FCA lists HTX as unauthorised and is suing Huobi Global S.A.; Malaysia's Securities Commission acted against Huobi Global in May 2023.
Does HTX publish proof of reserves?
Yes. HTX's Proof of Reserves page says a report is published monthly. The report dated 1 October 2026 shows BTC at 104%, ETH at 102%, TRX at 108% and stablecoins combined at 104%, with USDT alone at 64%.
What are HTX's fees?
At the base tier, spot trading costs 0.20% for makers and takers, or 0.15% when fees are paid with the HTX token.
Who owns HTX?
The user agreement refers to "HTX Operators", which may include companies, DAOs and unincorporated teams, rather than naming one owner.
Is HTX available in the US or EU?
No. Users from the United States, the United Kingdom and all EU member states are prohibited from using all services. The FCA said in February 2026 that existing UK users could still log in.
Has HTX faced regulatory action?
Malaysia's Securities Commission ordered Huobi Global Limited to stop operating there in May 2023. The FCA has warned about HTX since October 2023 and started High Court proceedings in October 2025.
How does HTX hold customer assets?
On a custodial basis: title stays with the user, and client assets are separated from HTX's own by ledger entries, not necessarily by separate blockchain addresses.
Where are HTX derivatives unavailable?
Besides the jurisdictions barred from all services, derivatives are closed to users from Taiwan, Israel, Iraq, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Ecuador, Kyrgyzstan and New Zealand.
Sources
- HTX — About Us
- HTX — Platform User Agreement
- HTX — Proof of Reserves
- Securities Commission Malaysia — Enforcement action against Huobi Global (22 May 2023)
- HTX — Global Licensed Businesses
- HTX — Fee Settings
- PVARA — News & Updates (NOCs to Binance and HTX, 12 December 2025)
- PVARA — Licensing
- FCA — Warning List: HTX (htx.com)
- FCA — HTX (formerly Huobi): legal proceedings information
- FCA — Press release, action against HTX (10 February 2026)
- New York Attorney General — Virtual Markets Integrity Initiative report (18 September 2018)
- CNMV — Warnings from foreign regulators: HTX
More in this section
How voting works
Votes are anonymous and carry no text. Each device has one vote per item; press the same button again to remove it. Cloudflare Turnstile checks that a person is voting. We keep a random device ID in a cookie and a salted hash of the IP address to limit abuse — no names, no accounts. Votes are visitors’ opinions, not investment advice.
Page updated: