Reading Time: 13 minutesThis HTX review goes over everything you need to know about one of the oldest cryptocurrency exchanges still in business. HTX, which used to be called Huobi Global, has been around since 2013 and has millions of users around the world. It is now one of the biggest platforms in the crypto trading space. 
The platform has a lot of digital assets that are good for both new and experienced traders, as well as spot trading, derivatives, and staking. But the question remains: is HTX still a good choice in 2026? This is because there are more rules in place in global markets. 
This guide looks at the platform’s security features, fees, supported countries, key features, and how it compares to its biggest competitors. Whether you’re thinking of making your first crypto trade or planning to have accounts with different exchanges, this HTX review will give you the full picture. 
HTX Review: What Is It?
HTX is a centralized crypto exchange platform where people can buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies. The name Huobi Exchange was initially used when the trading platform was founded in China back in 2013. Currently, it is one of the oldest exchanges that has survived till now. In an effort to improve its global standing, the trading platform was renamed HTX in 2024.
The exchange supports over 700 cryptocurrencies and trading pairs, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, altcoins, and token assets. HTX does not work on the basis of a decentralized exchange. Instead, it is a conventional order book exchange with a system that pairs buyers and sellers together. HTX operates in various locations, which have different sets of rules.
The exchange provides services to traders in over 160 countries. However, it can only be accessible based on the compliance requirements of the region. The platform can be accessed via web browsers, iOS and Android mobile apps or desktop trading applications that work for active traders.
You need to create an account and verify your identity to use most features of the HTX. Simple trading products only need basic KYC, whereas advanced withdrawal features and access to derivatives products will necessitate full document verification. The platform stores user funds in both hot wallets for instant liquidity and cold storage for long-term security.

Feature
Detail

Founded
2013 (Rebranded to HTX in 2024)

Headquarters
Seychelles

Supported Assets
700+ cryptocurrencies

Trading Types
Spot, Margin, Futures, Options, Copy Trading

Countries Supported
160+ (with restrictions)

Mobile App
iOS and Android available

KYC Required
Yes, for full platform access

What Are the Pros and Cons of HTX?
The reputation of HTX has been established over the past ten years, but it also carries limitations that affect certain user groups more than others.
Pros of HTX

Credibility from long operational history: HTX has endured various market cycles, shifts in regulation, and competition pressure since 2013. The pressure is enough to affect its operational stability, yet its foundation remains strong in the trading space.
Huge trading pairs and altcoin selection: The site offers hundreds of tokens outside of the top-50 list, allowing traders to access new projects and niche cryptocurrencies that are not available at bigger and more conservative exchanges.
Competitive fee structure for high-volume traders: Active users enjoy tiered fee discounts that may save them considerable amounts of funds compared to competitors that have flat-rate fees.
Advanced futures trading tools: HTX has up to 125x leverage on futures contracts, advanced charting, API access, and order types that professional traders require.
Good liquidity on key trading pairs: Popular currencies such as BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT have tight spreads and deep order books, meaning that sizable orders do not have to be filled at a high price.

Cons of HTX

Not available to users in the United States: The regulatory limitations do not allow HTX to provide direct service to US customers and this leaves out a substantial market of the retail world.
Customer service is slow to respond when demand is high: Customer feedback shows that email sent to the customer support can take several days to be answered, especially when the market is volatile. 
The rebranding from Huobi to HTX brought about some confusion in the short term: Long-term users were initially confused with the newly branded name, and some third-party integrations and tracking tools needed some time to refresh their references as a result.
Higher withdrawal limits require extensive KYC verification: To get higher daily withdrawal limits, users need to provide detailed identity documents and may need to wait several days to get it done as they go through verification backlogs.

Is HTX Safe and Legit to Use in 2026?
Yes, HTX is secure and legitimate according to the track record of its operations, security infrastructure and regulatory compliance initiatives. The exchange has been running successfully over a decade without a disastrous security attack that would lead to irreversible loss of customer funds. 
HTX uses industry-standard security that is characterized by cold storage of most user assets, two-factor authentication, withdrawal whitelist, and anti-phishing codes. It is a platform that keeps over 98 percent of user crypto in offline cold storage with only a small portion of it in hot wallets for immediate withdrawal processing.
On the regulatory front, HTX has a variety of licenses and registrations across various jurisdictions, such as the Seychelles, Hong Kong (limited license), as well as several other locations. The exchange has taken the initiative to leave markets where it cannot comply with the emerging compliance standards instead of operating within legal gray areas.
The site publishes a Merkle Tree proof-of-reserves system that enables customers to confirm that HTX possesses enough assets that can cover customer balances. Although this mechanism of transparency is not a full third-party audit, it is more transparent than most rival exchanges.
With that said, no centralized exchange can be considered completely safe. No exchange should ever hold more cryptocurrency than the user feels comfortable about losing in the worst-case scenario. Hardware wallets and self-custody are the most secure for long-term storage of large holdings.
What Countries Does HTX Support and Restrict?
HTX is available in over 160 countries all over the world, though it varies by local cryptocurrency laws. The exchange has individual entities and licensing contracts in other regions to meet the requirements of jurisdictions. Full access to HTX is available in countries such as: Most of Europe, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and many countries in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa. 
Restricted or no-access countries include: United States, mainland China, and a list of countries subject to international sanctions or where HTX has decided to leave because of regulatory uncertainty. The site employs IP address verification and KYC checks to impose geographic limitations. Users who are trying to use HTX in blocked areas would normally see an error message when creating an account or when logging in. 
Is HTX Available in the US?
No, HTX is not available to users in the United States. The exchange lacks the licenses to legally work in US markets, and US residents are strictly forbidden to open accounts and use trading services. This limitation is based on strict US regulatory requirements from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). 
Instead of going through the complicated and costly compliance procedure to serve American customers, HTX has opted out of US licensing. US users should consider US-based regulated alternatives such as Coinbase, Kraken, or Gemini for similar services, and all of them are operating under proper state and federal licenses. 
Any effort by US-based users to access HTX using VPNs or forged identity documents will result in legal and financial consequences, such as closure of the accounts and seizure of assets.
What Are the Key Features of HTX?

There is a wide range of trading ecosystems that HTX offers, far beyond just the capabilities of buying and selling. The platform has developed services that can attract various groups of users, from passive investors to active day traders.
The main offering of the exchange is spot trading. Hundreds of cryptocurrency pairs are available in market orders, limit orders, stop-loss orders, and other common types of orders. The interface offers order book depth visualization, trading history and real-time charts.
Derivatives and leverage trading give experienced traders access to perpetual contracts, quarterly futures, and options with leverage up to 125x on select pairs. These products allow users to amplify potential profits — and losses — by borrowing capital from the exchange to increase position sizes.
Staking and earning products let users lock up cryptocurrency for fixed periods in exchange for interest payments. HTX offers both flexible staking with daily withdrawals and fixed-term staking with higher APYs. Supported assets include major proof-of-stake tokens and platform-specific reward programs.
The HTX token (HT) functions as the platform’s native utility asset. Holding HT provides fee discounts, voting rights in platform governance decisions, and access to exclusive token sales through the HTX Primelist launch platform.
NFT marketplace integration enables users to buy, sell, and trade non-fungible tokens directly through the same account they use for cryptocurrency trading. The NFT section supports multiple blockchain standards and features curated collections.
Institutional services include OTC trading desks for large block trades, dedicated account managers, and customized liquidity solutions for professional trading firms and fund managers.
HTX Fees Reviewed

Understanding Huobi fees and the current HTX fee structure is essential before you start trading. The exchange uses a maker-taker fee structure with different discounts depending on the volume of trades made within 30 days and HT tokens held. The default fee structure for spot trading is 0.2% for both makers and takers. This default fee is charged to users without a trading history and HT tokens.
Your fee tier improves depending on the volume of trades made within 30 days. Users who make trades worth over $500,000 in one month pay approximately 0.15% in fees. Large-scale traders making over $100 million in trades get reduced fees of 0.02% and 0.04% for makers and takers, respectively. Holding HT tokens gives you additional discounts depending on the amount of HT held. Maximum discounts go up to 25% off the base fee.
Trading fees for derivatives are structured similarly, but with different base rates. The minimum trading fees for perpetual contracts start at 0.02% for maker positions and 0.04% for taker positions. Other derivative fees have similar structures for futures and options, depending on the underlying contract.
There are no deposit fees for all listed cryptocurrencies. There is no charge for transferring cryptocurrencies into the HTX exchange, regardless of how the deposit is made. Withdrawal fees depend on the cryptocurrency used and are updated regularly based on network stability. 
On average, withdrawal fees for Bitcoin range from 0.0002 BTC to 0.0005 BTC. Withdrawal fees for Ethereum range from 0.003 ETH to 0.01 ETH. Stablecoin withdrawals on networks like Tron or BSC tend to cost between $1 and $2 equivalent.

Transaction Type
Fee Structure

Spot Trading (Maker)
0.2% (decreases with volume)

Spot Trading (Taker)
0.2% (decreases with volume)

Futures Trading (Maker)
0.02% (base rate)

Futures Trading (Taker)
0.04% (base rate)

Deposits
Free for all cryptocurrencies

Withdrawals
Varies by asset and network

HT Token Discount
Up to 25% off base fees

How to Sign Up and Start Trading on HTX

Setting up an HTX exchange account and making your first trade follows a straightforward five-step process. The whole sequence will normally take less than 15 minutes if you have the necessary documentation.
Step 1: Create your HTX account
Navigate to the HTX website and tap the “Register” button on the upper right corner of the page. Registration could be done using either email or mobile number. Choose any registration method, create a secure password consisting of upper case and lower case letters, digits, and other symbols, and then tap the “Sign Up” button. An activation code will be sent to your mobile number or email address.
Step 2: Finish identity verification (KYC)
Go to account settings and choose Identity Verification. You will be required to submit your complete legal name as it appears on government documents, date of birth, nationality, and your place of residence.
Provide a clear image or scan of a government-issued ID – this may be a passport, national ID card, or driver’s license. Complete the facial recognition check by following the on-screen instructions to take a selfie or short video.
Most KYC applications are approved in 10-30 minutes, but there are cases when manual inspection is necessary and can be completed within 24 hours.
Step 3: Deposit funds to your wallet
Go to the main menu and under Assets, select Deposit. Choose the cryptocurrency you want to deposit. If you already have crypto, HTX will provide a deposit address and QR code. Copy this address and transfer your crypto using your external wallet or another exchange.
If you don’t have cryptocurrency, HTX offers limited fiat on-ramp features with third-party payment processors in some countries. Purchases made with credit cards normally incur fees between 3% and 5%.
Step 4: Find the trading interface
After your deposit is confirmed (very fast networks can show it within a few seconds, whereas Bitcoin can take 30 minutes to an hour or longer), you will see your balance in your HTX spot wallet. Click ‘Trade’ in the main menu and select ‘Spot Trading.’ Enter the trading pair of your choice in the search bar, e.g., BTC/USDT or ETH/USDT.
Step 5: Place your first trade
The order entry panel can be found on the right-hand side of the screen when using the trading platform. If you like to execute a trade immediately, all you need is to just go for the Market option and specify how many stocks you want to trade by clicking on the Buy/Sell button. If you are on a budget, there is always the option of Limit tab for the execution price. You can consider using the limit tap option at any time. 
HTX vs. Other Crypto Exchanges
Choosing between HTX and alternative exchanges depends on factors like location and personal preferences. Here is how HTX compares with three other major cryptocurrency exchanges.
HTX vs. Binance
Binance remains the leader in terms of volume and number of users across the globe. Our Binance review shows that the platform offers lower base trading fees (0.1% vs. 0.2% at HTX), more trading pairs, advanced futures products, and better fiat conversion options in various countries.
The main advantages of HTX over Binance are the ease of use and simple user interface for many traders interested in derivatives markets. It also has a larger variety of copy trading strategies and faster customer service responses for users in Asia. Additionally, HTX usually lists altcoins sooner than Binance, which is appreciated by traders interested in small-cap coins.
HTX vs. Bybit
Bybit is widely known as a derivatives platform with special expertise in perpetual contracts and futures markets. Our Bybit review highlights its industry-leading leverage options, highly responsive trading engine, and robust mobile app performance.
HTX offers a broader spot trading selection with hundreds more listed tokens than Bybit. HTX also provides more extensive staking options and a more developed ecosystem of ancillary services like copy trading and NFT marketplace integration.
HTX vs. Coinbase
Coinbase is the most regulated and compliant major cryptocurrency exchange, especially in the USA and Europe. Our Coinbase review highlights its easy-to-use design, regulatory soundness, and effortless connection to regular banking institutions.
Coinbase provides bank account transactions in many countries, credit card deposits with fast deposit speed, and even insurance cover for funds in custody. This makes Coinbase the go-to exchange for people focused on regulatory protection and ease of use.
The aspects where HTX beats Coinbase by far are advanced trading functionality, token selection, and lower fees for active traders. Coinbase fees are quite high (1.49% in certain cases), and its token list consists of fewer than 300 cryptos, while HTX has around 700 tokens. 
The choice between these platforms basically depends on your priorities. If you’re a cautious investor looking for top-notch regulatory protection and an easy experience, Coinbase is the way to go, even with the higher fees. But if you’re an experienced trader wanting more options and advanced tools, HTX would be a better fit.

Feature
HTX
Binance
Bybit
Coinbase

Base Trading Fee
0.2%
0.1%
0.1%
0.6%–1.49%

Listed Assets
700+
600+
400+
280+

Maximum Leverage
125x
125x
100x
Not offered

US Availability
No
No
No
Yes

Regulatory Compliance
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Highest

Derivatives Trading
Yes
Yes
Yes (specialized)
No

Who Is HTX Perfect For?
HTX serves specific user segments particularly well while being less ideal for others. Understanding where you fit on this spectrum helps determine if the platform matches your needs.
HTX is perfect for international traders seeking diverse altcoin exposure. The platform’s extensive listing of smaller-cap tokens and emerging projects gives access to investment opportunities unavailable on more conservative exchanges. Traders who actively research new protocols and want to buy tokens shortly after launch will find HTX’s aggressive listing approach valuable.
Active traders who generate significant monthly volume benefit from HTX’s tiered fee structure. Users trading more than $100,000 per month see meaningful fee reductions that compound over time. Combined with HT token discounts, professional traders can achieve total costs well below the 0.2% base rate.
Derivatives traders comfortable with high leverage find HTX’s futures and options platform competitive with specialized alternatives. The 125x maximum leverage on select pairs allows for capital-efficient position sizing, though this dramatically increases liquidation risk.
Copy trading attracts beginners who want market exposure without developing trading strategies themselves. HTX’s copy trading interface provides detailed performance metrics, risk scores, and strategy descriptions that help new users select experienced traders to follow.
HTX is NOT ideal for US-based users due to regulatory restrictions that completely block access to the platform. American traders must use domestic alternatives regardless of HTX’s features.
Complete beginners with no cryptocurrency experience may find HTX’s interface overwhelming compared to simpler platforms designed specifically for first-time users. The abundance of features and trading options requires a baseline understanding of crypto concepts.
Final Verdict: Should We Use HTX in 2026?
This HTX review has covered the platform’s core operations, security posture, fee structure, geographic availability, and competitive positioning. The honest conclusion is that HTX remains a legitimate, feature-rich exchange worth using in 2026 — but with important caveats.
Yes, HTX is worth using if you need access to a wide range of altcoins, want advanced trading tools, and operate from a supported country. The platform’s long operational history demonstrates stability and reliability that many newer exchanges cannot match. The combination of spot trading, derivatives, staking, and copy trading provides a comprehensive toolkit for different investment strategies.
The fee structure becomes increasingly competitive as your trading volume grows, making HTX particularly cost-effective for active users. The platform’s security measures — including cold storage, proof-of-reserves, and rapid response to the 2023 security incident — suggest a genuine commitment to protecting user assets.
However, HTX is not the best choice for everyone. US users have no legal access. Users in markets with stricter regulations may face service disruptions as the platform adjusts to changing compliance requirements. The customer support experience varies, with some users reporting slow response times during high-demand periods.
For most international traders seeking a secondary exchange to complement Binance or other primary platforms, HTX serves as a solid diversification option. The token selection alone justifies maintaining an account for accessing specific assets not available elsewhere. 
The risk of holding funds on HTX appears comparable to other major centralized exchanges based on available evidence and operational track record. The most effective approach is to treat HTX as one component of a diversified exchange strategy. 
FAQs About HTX
Here are direct answers to the most common questions about using HTX in 2026.
Is HTX safe?
Yes, HTX maintains security standards comparable to other major centralized exchanges. The platform uses cold storage for the majority of user funds, requires two-factor authentication, and has demonstrated the financial capacity to reimburse users after the 2023 security incident. 
However, no exchange is completely immune to hacking or technical failures, so users should never store their entire crypto portfolio on any centralized platform for extended periods.
Is HTX legit?
Yes, HTX is a real cryptocurrency exchange that’s been running since 2013. It has licenses in several places and has handled billions in trades. While it has had some regulatory issues and decided to leave certain markets, those moves are more about following the law than being shady. The platform’s proof-of-reserves setup and long history back up its credibility.
Can I use HTX without KYC?
No, HTX needs at least some basic identity verification for users who want to trade or take out money. You can check out the platform and see prices without KYC, but you can’t deposit crypto, trade, or withdraw without going through the verification process. This is due to anti-money-laundering rules that most centralized exchanges have to follow.
What are HTX trading fees?
HTX charges a base fee of 0.2% for both makers and takers on spot trades. This rate decreases progressively based on your 30-day trading volume, with high-volume traders accessing rates as low as 0.02% for makers. Holding HT tokens provides additional discounts up to 25% off the base fee. Derivatives trading fees start at 0.02% for makers and 0.04% for takers, also subject to volume-based reductions.
Does HTX support US users?
No, HTX cannot accommodate traders residing within the US because of certain legal considerations. The exchange does not have the required permits to facilitate its operations within US jurisdictions, while US-based residents are barred from opening accounts on HTX. Traders looking for alternatives within the US can resort to other exchanges like Coinbase, Kraken, or Gemini.