HTX (Huobi) Review

This HTX review starts with the part most exchange write-ups bury at the bottom: legal risk. HTX, the platform that traded for a decade under the Huobi name, still runs a deep spot market and a busy derivatives desk, but 2026 brought sanctions from both the United Kingdom and the European Union. Anyone weighing an account should understand that context before looking at fees or coin lists.

What Changed in 2027

In May 2026 the UK government added Huobi Global S.A. to its Russia-related sanctions list, alleging the business helped move funds for sanctioned networks. HTX disputed the allegations and argued that Huobi Global S.A. is a separate entity from the exchange it operates today. Two months later the EU adopted its 21st Russia sanctions package, naming HTX (Huobi Global SA) and imposing a transaction ban that took effect on 23 August 2026. The EU measure is not an asset freeze, but it bars EU operators from dealing with the platform. Residents of the EU, EEA and Switzerland were given a limited window to request authorisation to withdraw and close accounts.

The fallout reached beyond regulators. Several large exchanges began flagging or rejecting deposits from addresses linked to HTX, and on-chain trackers reported that roughly $1.3 billion of reserves moved to an undisclosed third-party custodian in mid-2026. HTX says customer assets remain backed 1:1.

Background and Ownership

Huobi was founded in Beijing in 2013 by Leon Li and became one of the largest exchanges of the 2017 cycle. After China tightened rules on crypto trading, operations moved offshore. In 2022 the company changed hands, and Tron founder Justin Sun became its most visible adviser; the HTX brand followed in 2023. The exchange is incorporated in Seychelles and holds no Tier-1 licence. It does not serve users in the United States or mainland China.

Security Record

Two hot-wallet incidents hit HTX in 2023: about $8 million in ether was taken in September and roughly $30 million in November. The exchange said it covered losses from its own funds. HTX publishes Merkle-tree proof-of-reserves snapshots, which let users check that their balance is included, although critics have questioned how much of the reserve base consists of assets tied to Sun-affiliated projects.

Fees and Account Levels

Spot trading starts at 0.20% for both maker and taker orders at the base Prime 0 level, which is higher than the 0.10% many competitors charge. Discounts arrive through a 12-step Prime ladder based on 30-day volume, portfolio size or HTX token holdings, falling to 0.0126% maker and 0.0218% taker at Prime 11. Holding any HTX token cuts fees by a further 25%. USDT-margined futures begin at 0.02% maker and 0.06% taker, with coin-margined contracts slightly cheaper for takers. Withdrawal fees are dynamic and track network costs; an ERC-20 USDT withdrawal has been quoted at around 2 USDT.

Markets and Tools

CoinGecko currently tracks 521 coins and 534 spot pairs on HTX, with daily spot volume near $0.9 billion. Perpetual futures offer up to 200x leverage, spot margin goes to 5x, and a small options offering exists alongside. Other products include copy trading, grid bots, staking and savings products, crypto loans, a launchpool for new tokens, and a P2P desk that serves as the main fiat on-ramp in many countries. The mobile apps for iOS and Android mirror the web terminal.

KYC and Limits

Identity verification is mandatory and tiered across three levels. Daily withdrawal limits rise sharply with each level, so traders moving larger sums will need full verification.

Who Might Still Consider It

For traders outside the UK and EU who want access to newly listed tokens and high-leverage perpetuals, HTX remains functional and liquid. Even so, the sanctions create counterparty risk that is hard to price: banking partners can withdraw, other exchanges may refuse transfers, and further jurisdictions could follow. Anyone in a sanctioned region should not open or fund an account.

Bottom Line

HTX combines a wide coin selection and competitive futures pricing with the weakest compliance profile of the major exchanges we track. Its trust score reflects the sanctions, the 2023 hacks and the absence of a recognised licence. Cautious users will find comparable markets on better-regulated venues.

Digital assets can lose value quickly and leveraged positions can be liquidated in full, so only risk money you can afford to lose.

HTX (Huobi) FAQ

Risk warning: Trading forex and CFDs on margin carries a high level of risk. Bonus terms are set by each broker and may change; always check the broker's official terms before claiming.