HTX (formerly Huobi Global) is one of the oldest cryptocurrency exchanges still operating, founded in September 2013 by Leon Li in Beijing. For nearly a decade, Huobi was synonymous with Chinese crypto trading — at its peak, it processed over 60% of global Bitcoin volume and was considered part of the "Big Three" alongside OKCoin and BTC China.

That era ended. In September 2021, China's comprehensive crypto ban forced Huobi to exit its home market entirely, relocating operations to the Seychelles and pivoting to a global user base. Then, in late 2022, Leon Li sold his controlling stake to About Capital Management, an investment firm with close ties to Justin Sun, the founder of the Tron blockchain (source: Bloomberg, "Huobi Founder Sells Majority Stake," Oct. 2022). In September 2023, the exchange formally rebranded from Huobi Global to HTX — a name that stands for "Huobi Tron X," explicitly linking the exchange to Sun's blockchain ecosystem.

Justin Sun's involvement is the defining characteristic of HTX in 2026. While his exact title has shifted between "global advisor" and board member, industry consensus and multiple investigative reports indicate that Sun is the de facto controlling figure behind HTX's operations and strategic direction. This matters because Sun is one of the most polarizing figures in crypto: celebrated by some as a savvy entrepreneur who rescued Tron from obscurity, criticized by others for aggressive marketing tactics, questionable token economics, and a pending SEC lawsuit alleging unregistered securities offerings and market manipulation.

As of early 2026, HTX claims approximately 50 million cumulative registered users, supports over 500 cryptocurrencies and 800+ trading pairs, and holds a CoinGecko trust score of 8 out of 10. The exchange offers spot trading, futures with up to 200x leverage, margin trading, staking, and an array of earn products.

This review provides a thorough, first-hand assessment of HTX in its current state: the trading experience, fee structure, security record (including the significant November 2023 hack), regulatory standing, and whether HTX is a platform you should trust with your funds in 2026. We tested account creation, KYC, deposits, trades, and withdrawals ourselves rather than relying on marketing materials.

The period from late 2022 through early 2026 has been transformative for HTX — though not always in positive ways.

The most consequential change was the ownership transfer. In October 2022, Leon Li sold his controlling stake in Huobi Global to About Capital Management for an estimated $1 billion. About Capital's connection to Justin Sun became apparent almost immediately, as Sun was named a "global advisor" to the exchange within weeks of the acquisition. By mid-2023, Sun's influence was visible across the platform: Tron-based tokens received preferential listing treatment, TRX became a base trading pair, and the exchange's marketing increasingly aligned with Sun's public persona.

The September 2023 rebrand from Huobi Global to HTX formalized this relationship. The "H" for Huobi, "T" for Tron, and "X" for exchange made the connection explicit. The rebrand was accompanied by a logo change, a new brand identity, and a stated ambition to reach 8 billion users — a target that many in the industry viewed as unrealistic marketing rhetoric.

In November 2023, HTX suffered a major security breach. Approximately $97 million was stolen from one of the exchange's hot wallets (source: CoinDesk, "HTX Hacked for $97.5 Million," Nov. 2023). HTX confirmed the hack, stated that all user funds would be covered, and credited affected accounts within 72 hours. The exchange temporarily suspended deposits and withdrawals for approximately one week while the security team investigated. The funds were not recovered.

On the regulatory front, HTX has pursued licenses in several jurisdictions. The exchange obtained a license from Dubai's VARA in late 2024 and has applied for regulatory approval in multiple other markets. However, HTX remains unavailable in the United States, mainland China, and several other jurisdictions.

Throughout 2024 and 2025, HTX launched several new products: a copy trading feature, an upgraded futures platform with up to 200x leverage, and expanded staking offerings through the "HTX Earn" suite. The exchange also deepened its integration with the Tron ecosystem, adding native TRC-20 token support across its product lineup.

One positive development: HTX implemented Proof of Reserves in late 2023, publishing monthly reports using Merkle tree verification. The reports have been published consistently, though independent auditors have noted that PoR alone does not verify the absence of liabilities — a limitation that applies to all exchanges using this methodology.

HTX offers a trading interface that will feel familiar to anyone who has used a major centralized exchange in the past few years. The platform provides two main modes: a simplified "Quick Trade" view for beginners and a full-featured "Professional" trading interface.

The Professional interface includes TradingView-powered candlestick charts, a real-time order book, recent trade history, and a comprehensive order form supporting market, limit, stop-limit, and trigger orders. The layout is customizable, and the overall design is clean and functional — neither the most polished (OKX and Binance look better) nor the worst in the industry.

Order execution speed is adequate for most traders. In our testing, market orders on BTC/USDT filled within 2-3 seconds with acceptable slippage on standard order sizes. However, liquidity on HTX is noticeably thinner than on Binance, OKX, or even Bybit. On mid-cap and small-cap trading pairs, spreads can be significantly wider, and large orders may experience meaningful slippage. HTX's spot trading volume typically ranks between 8th and 12th globally — respectable, but a step down from the top tier.

Futures trading is available with leverage up to 200x on major pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT, though leverage caps decrease sharply for smaller assets (typically 20-50x). HTX offers both USDT-margined and coin-margined perpetual contracts, as well as quarterly delivery contracts. The futures interface is functional and includes standard risk management tools: take-profit/stop-loss orders, trailing stops, and cross/isolated margin modes.

Margin trading supports up to 5x leverage on spot markets, with both cross and isolated margin options. The available margin pairs are fewer than what Binance or OKX offer, but the major trading pairs are all supported.

One notable feature is HTX's integration with the Tron ecosystem. TRX-based trading pairs are prominently featured, and Tron-native tokens often receive listings on HTX before appearing on other major exchanges. Whether this is a positive or negative depends on your view of the Tron ecosystem — it provides early access to certain tokens but also creates a potential conflict of interest given Sun's dual role.

Copy trading was launched in 2024 and allows users to follow the strategies of top-performing traders on the platform. The feature is straightforward but less mature than equivalent offerings on Bybit or Binance, with fewer lead traders and less historical performance data available.

HTX's fee structure is one of its weaknesses relative to major competitors. The standard spot trading fees are 0.20% for both maker and taker orders — double what Binance charges and significantly higher than OKX, Bybit, or KuCoin.

To put this in context: on a $10,000 spot trade, you would pay $20 in fees at HTX's base rate versus $10 at Binance or $8 at OKX. For active traders making multiple trades daily, this difference compounds into a meaningful drag on returns over time.

HTX does offer fee discounts through its tiered VIP system and through holding the HT token (now rebranded alongside the exchange). Holding HT provides a tiered discount on trading fees, and the VIP system reduces fees further based on 30-day trading volume. At the highest VIP levels, maker fees drop to around 0.0362% and taker fees to approximately 0.0462%. However, reaching these tiers requires substantial volume — most retail traders will remain at or near the base rate.

Futures fees are more competitive: 0.02% maker / 0.04% taker at the base tier, which is in line with Binance and other major futures platforms. If futures trading is your primary activity, the fee disadvantage is much less significant.

Fiat deposits via bank transfer are generally free where available, though availability varies by region. Credit card purchases carry a fee of approximately 3-5% when using third-party payment processors — higher than the industry average. HTX does offer a P2P marketplace with zero platform fees, but the P2P liquidity and number of payment methods are a fraction of what Binance offers.

Crypto deposits are free. Withdrawal fees vary by asset and network but are generally in line with industry standards. One positive note: HTX supports withdrawals on many networks (including TRC-20, which has low fees), giving users options to minimize withdrawal costs.

The bottom line on fees: HTX is not a low-fee exchange for spot trading. If you are fee-sensitive and primarily trade spot markets, Binance, OKX, or KuCoin offer better value. The futures fee structure is competitive, but that alone may not justify the platform choice when other aspects of the exchange are also considered.

Security is the area where HTX's recent history raises the most concern. The November 2023 hot wallet hack resulting in approximately $97 million in losses was one of the largest exchange hacks of that year and is a significant mark against the platform.

The hack exploited vulnerabilities in HTX's hot wallet infrastructure. While HTX moved quickly to acknowledge the breach and committed to covering all user losses — which they did within 72 hours — the incident raised serious questions about the quality of HTX's security engineering under its new ownership. The timing was particularly notable: the hack occurred just weeks after the HTX rebrand and during a period of significant organizational transition.

Prior to the ownership change, Huobi had a relatively clean security record. The exchange had not suffered a major hack since its founding in 2013. Whether the November 2023 breach was related to the ownership transition, organizational restructuring, or simply bad luck is unclear, but the timing is hard to ignore.

Since the hack, HTX has stated that it significantly upgraded its security infrastructure, including enhanced hot wallet protection, improved monitoring systems, and additional layers of authorization for large transfers. The exchange also maintains a "Security Reserve Fund" intended to protect users in the event of future incidents, though the exact size of this fund is not as transparently reported as Binance's SAFU.

Proof of Reserves reports have been published monthly since late 2023, using Merkle tree verification. Users can verify their individual balances are included in the reserve totals. However, PoR does not verify that HTX has no outstanding liabilities or off-balance-sheet obligations — a limitation worth understanding.

Account-level security features include mandatory 2FA (SMS or Google Authenticator), anti-phishing codes, withdrawal address whitelisting, and login notification alerts. These are standard for the industry and function as expected.

The Justin Sun factor adds an additional layer of concern for some users. Sun's SEC lawsuit — alleging unregistered securities offerings and market manipulation related to TRX and other tokens — remains pending (source: SEC complaint against Justin Sun et al., sec.gov, March 2023). While this lawsuit is directed at Sun personally and not at HTX, the tight connection between the two creates reputational and potentially operational risk. If Sun were to face adverse regulatory action, the downstream effects on HTX are difficult to predict.

Is HTX safe in 2026? The technical security has been improved since the 2023 hack, PoR provides some transparency, and user funds were covered during the breach. But the combination of a major recent hack, controversial ownership, and pending SEC litigation against the controlling figure means that HTX carries higher perceived risk than exchanges like Binance, Coinbase, or Kraken. Users should carefully consider whether they are comfortable with this risk profile before depositing significant funds.

HTX supports a reasonable range of deposit and withdrawal methods, though the options are narrower than what the largest exchanges offer.

Crypto deposits are free and typically confirmed within the standard network confirmation times — 10-30 minutes for most assets. HTX supports deposits across numerous networks including Ethereum, Tron (TRC-20), BNB Chain, Solana, Arbitrum, Optimism, and Polygon. The TRC-20 network is prominently featured, consistent with the exchange's Tron integration, and is a genuinely low-cost option for stablecoin transfers.

Fiat deposits are available in select currencies and regions. Bank transfers are supported for several major currencies, and third-party payment processors handle credit and debit card purchases. The fiat on-ramp experience varies significantly by country — users in major markets like Europe or Southeast Asia will find adequate options, while users in smaller markets may find fiat deposit options limited or unavailable.

The P2P marketplace provides an alternative fiat on-ramp, supporting multiple currencies and payment methods. However, the P2P marketplace has significantly fewer active traders and payment options compared to Binance's P2P platform. In regions where HTX's P2P has thin liquidity, users may encounter less favorable rates and longer transaction times.

Crypto withdrawals process within 30-60 minutes for most assets. Withdrawal fees are standard for the industry and vary by asset and network. Using the TRC-20 network for USDT withdrawals is one of the cheapest options available — typically under $1 — and is a genuine advantage for users who frequently move stablecoins.

Fiat withdrawals are available in select markets, typically processing within 1-5 business days depending on the payment method and region. Options are more limited than crypto withdrawals and depend heavily on your jurisdiction.

One area of concern: during the November 2023 hack, deposits and withdrawals were fully suspended for approximately one week. While this was a necessary security response, it highlighted the risk of being unable to access funds during a crisis. This is not unique to HTX — most exchanges would take similar action — but it is worth noting given the platform's recent breach history.

The HTX mobile app is available on both iOS and Android and provides a comprehensive mobile trading experience. The app carries ratings of approximately 4.3 stars on Google Play and 4.2 stars on the Apple App Store, based on a moderate number of reviews.

Feature parity with the desktop platform is strong. Users can access spot trading, futures, margin, earn products, P2P marketplace, and copy trading from the app. The TradingView charts work reasonably well on mobile, though complex technical analysis is more comfortable on desktop.

The app offers a simplified mode for beginners, similar to the Quick Trade feature on the desktop platform. This mode strips away the order book and chart complexity, presenting a straightforward buy/sell interface that is approachable for new users.

Push notifications for price alerts, order fills, and security events are reliable. Biometric authentication (fingerprint and Face ID) is supported on both platforms. The overall app experience is competent — not class-leading like Binance or Crypto.com's apps, but functional and well-organized.

One minor complaint from user reviews: the app can be slow to load on older devices, and some users report occasional lag during periods of high market volatility. These issues appear to affect a minority of users but are worth mentioning.

Customer support at HTX is a mixed experience. The exchange offers 24/7 live chat support, an email ticket system, and a help center with articles covering common questions and platform features.

The live chat system uses an AI chatbot for initial interaction, handling routine queries about deposits, withdrawals, and account features. For issues the chatbot cannot resolve, you are escalated to a human agent. In our testing, the chatbot handled basic questions adequately, and escalation to a human agent took approximately 5-15 minutes during business hours.

The help center is reasonably comprehensive, covering most platform features and common troubleshooting scenarios. Article quality is acceptable, though some guides feel like they were hastily translated and could benefit from better localization.

Where support falls short: complex issues like locked accounts, failed withdrawals, or KYC verification problems can take several days to resolve. User reviews across multiple platforms cite slow response times on escalated tickets as a common frustration. The exchange's Trustpilot score reflects this — ratings are poor, though this is an industry-wide pattern rather than an HTX-specific problem.

Social media support through Twitter/X and Telegram is also available, and some users report faster responses through these channels for urgent issues. However, social media support should be approached with caution due to the prevalence of scam accounts impersonating exchange support teams.

Compared to Binance's support (which is itself frequently criticized), HTX's support infrastructure appears smaller and less responsive. For an exchange that has undergone a major security incident and ownership change, robust customer support would be particularly valuable — and its absence is notable.

HTX's regulatory position is one of the more complex in the industry, shaped by its Chinese origins, the 2021 mainland China exit, and its current association with Justin Sun.

The exchange is incorporated in the Seychelles, which serves as its primary legal jurisdiction. HTX obtained a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license from Dubai's VARA in late 2024, which represents its most significant regulatory approval. The exchange has also claimed licenses or registrations in several other jurisdictions, though the details are less transparent than what Binance, Coinbase, or Kraken provide.

HTX is not available to residents of the United States. U.S. users cannot create accounts, and the exchange actively blocks U.S. IP addresses. There is no separate U.S. entity equivalent to Binance.US or Coinbase.

Mainland China users are also blocked, consistent with the exchange's 2021 exit from the Chinese market following the comprehensive crypto ban. However, questions persist about the degree to which HTX still serves Chinese users through VPNs or indirect channels — an issue that has been raised by industry commentators but not definitively proven.

The Justin Sun factor complicates the regulatory picture significantly. Sun faces an ongoing SEC lawsuit filed in March 2023, alleging unregistered securities offerings (TRX, BTT, and other tokens), manipulative wash trading on both HTX and Poloniex (another Sun-affiliated exchange), and paying celebrities for undisclosed token promotions. While this lawsuit targets Sun personally, his close association with HTX creates regulatory uncertainty — particularly if the SEC were to pursue remedies that affect Sun-controlled entities.

HTX maintains a compliance team and has implemented KYC/AML procedures globally. All users must complete identity verification before trading or withdrawing. The exchange also cooperates with law enforcement on investigations, though it has been less vocal about compliance investments than Binance or Coinbase.

The bottom line: HTX is legal to use in most non-U.S. and non-Chinese markets, and the Dubai VARA license provides some regulatory legitimacy. However, the combination of Seychelles incorporation, Justin Sun's pending SEC litigation, and less transparent regulatory disclosures means that HTX's regulatory standing is weaker than the top-tier exchanges. Users in tightly regulated markets should consider whether this risk profile aligns with their comfort level.

While HTX does not have as many unique differentiators as some competitors, several features are worth highlighting.

The Tron ecosystem integration is the most distinctive aspect of HTX. As effectively a sister platform to the Tron blockchain, HTX offers deep native support for TRC-20 tokens, early listings of Tron ecosystem projects, and particularly low-cost USDT transfers via the TRC-20 network. For users heavily invested in the Tron ecosystem, HTX is arguably the most natural exchange partner.

HTX Primelist is the exchange's token launch platform, similar to Binance Launchpad or KuCoin Spotlight. It provides early access to new token offerings, with HTX token (HT) holders receiving preferential allocation. The quality and performance of Primelist launches has been mixed — some projects have performed well, while others have declined sharply post-listing.

The exchange's futures platform supports up to 200x leverage — one of the highest in the industry. While extreme leverage is not recommended for most traders, it provides flexibility for experienced derivatives traders who want maximum capital efficiency on high-conviction trades.

HTX Earn offers a suite of yield products including flexible and locked savings, staking, and structured products. APY rates are competitive with other major exchanges, though the product selection is narrower than Binance Earn or Bybit Earn.

Finally, HTX's longevity — over 12 years of operation — is a feature in itself. The exchange has survived multiple crypto winters, regulatory upheavals, and an ownership change. While the current controversy around Justin Sun is real, the platform's operational durability is notable in an industry where exchanges frequently shut down or exit-scam.

HTX is best suited for a specific type of user: experienced traders who are comfortable with the exchange's risk profile and want access to a broad range of altcoins, competitive futures trading, and deep Tron ecosystem integration.

If you are heavily involved in the Tron ecosystem — holding TRX, farming Tron-based DeFi protocols, or trading TRC-20 tokens — HTX offers the most seamless experience. The native TRC-20 support and early access to Tron ecosystem token listings are genuine advantages that no other major exchange replicates.

Futures traders who prioritize high leverage (up to 200x) and competitive derivatives fees (0.02% maker / 0.04% taker) may also find HTX attractive, though Binance, Bybit, and OKX all offer similar or better derivatives experiences with deeper liquidity.

HTX is not the best choice for beginners. The platform's controversial ownership, recent hack history, and higher spot trading fees mean that new users are better served by Coinbase, Kraken, or even Binance, which offer better regulatory standing, stronger security records, and more intuitive onboarding experiences.

HTX is not suitable for U.S. residents — the exchange is not available in the United States. Users who prioritize regulatory clarity and maximum fund safety should also look elsewhere. The combination of Justin Sun's SEC litigation, the 2023 hack, and Seychelles incorporation creates a risk profile that is meaningfully higher than the top-tier exchanges.

If you do choose to use HTX, a sensible approach is to avoid storing large amounts of funds on the platform long-term. Use the exchange for active trading, and withdraw to self-custody or a more established exchange when not actively trading.

HTX is a capable cryptocurrency exchange with a long history, decent coin selection (500+), and competitive futures trading fees. Its deep Tron ecosystem integration is unique, and the platform's core trading functionality — charts, order types, execution — is perfectly adequate for most trading needs.

However, the weaknesses are significant. Spot trading fees of 0.20% are double what Binance charges. The November 2023 hack ($97 million) is a serious mark against the platform's security record. Justin Sun's de facto control of the exchange, combined with his pending SEC lawsuit, creates reputational and regulatory risk that is difficult to quantify but impossible to ignore. Customer support is below average, and regulatory standing is weaker than the industry leaders.

The fundamental question with HTX is whether you trust the current stewardship. If you believe Justin Sun is a capable operator who will invest in security and compliance, HTX offers a feature-rich trading platform at an acceptable cost. If you have reservations about Sun's track record or his legal exposure, there are several exchanges that offer similar or better functionality with less controversy.

Our overall rating is 3.5 out of 5. HTX is a functional exchange that gets the job done, but the combination of higher fees, a recent major hack, and controversial ownership places it a tier below Binance, OKX, Coinbase, and Kraken for most users. Use it for specific use cases (Tron ecosystem, high-leverage futures) rather than as your primary exchange.