Crypto Exchange Review
HTX (Huobi) Review 2026 — Is HTX (Huobi) Legit?
Score Summary
out of 10
HTX (formerly Huobi Global) underwent a major ownership change in 2022 when it was acquired by Justin Sun-linked entities. The rebranding and leadership shift have created uncertainty about the exchange's future direction, and several key executives have departed since the acquisition.
Overview
Huobi was originally founded in 2013 in China by Leon Li and grew to become one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. In October 2022, controlling ownership was transferred to entities linked to Tron blockchain founder Justin Sun, though Sun initially denied direct control. The exchange rebranded from Huobi Global to HTX in September 2023.
HTX supports over 500 cryptocurrencies and offers spot, futures, margin trading, and various earning products. However, the ownership transition has been turbulent, with significant executive departures, workforce reductions, and questions about the platform's strategic direction.
Warning
The acquisition of Huobi by Justin Sun-linked entities and subsequent rebranding to HTX has been accompanied by significant instability. Multiple senior executives have departed, the platform suffered a $30 million hot wallet hack in September 2023, and daily trading volume has declined from peak levels. Users should be aware of the elevated uncertainty surrounding the platform's management and operations.
Regulatory Status
- Seychelles — Corporate registration
- VARA (Dubai) — Application reported (status uncertain)
- No major Western licenses — Not registered with SEC, FCA, MAS, or ASIC
- Lost Japanese license — Huobi Japan was sold in 2023
Fee Structure
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Spot Maker/Taker | 0.20% / 0.20% |
| With HT discount | 0.14% / 0.14% |
| Futures Maker/Taker | 0.02% / 0.04% |
| Crypto Deposit | Free |
| Withdrawal (BTC) | 0.0005 BTC |
HTX's base spot fees of 0.20% are higher than most major competitors.
Platform & Tools
- Spot Trading — 500+ pairs with standard charting and order types
- Futures — USDT-margined and coin-margined perpetuals with up to 200x leverage
- Margin Trading — Cross and isolated margin
- Earn — Staking, savings, and liquidity mining
- PrimeVote — Token listing voting mechanism
The platform is functional but the user experience has not meaningfully improved since the ownership change.
Customer Support
- 24/7 live chat available
- Response times of 20-40 minutes
- Help center with basic documentation
- Support quality has reportedly declined since the ownership change
Trustworthiness
HTX presents significant trust concerns:
- $30 million hot wallet hack in September 2023
- Opaque ownership structure linked to Justin Sun
- Multiple senior executive departures since acquisition
- Declining trading volumes
- Limited regulatory oversight
- Questions about potential conflicts of interest given Sun's involvement with Tron and related projects
- No independent proof-of-reserves audit
Warning
Justin Sun has faced SEC charges in the United States for the unregistered offer and sale of Tron (TRX) and BitTorrent (BTT) tokens, as well as allegedly manipulating trading volume. While these charges relate to Sun's personal activities rather than HTX directly, the association raises concerns about the exchange's governance and regulatory risk.
Conclusion
HTX earns a Use With Caution verdict with a score of 5.3. The platform retains the technical infrastructure built during its Huobi era, but the ownership change, security breach, executive departures, and regulatory concerns create substantial uncertainty. Users who choose HTX should minimize their exposure and withdraw funds regularly. We recommend considering better-regulated alternatives.
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