HTX, the exchange formerly called Huobi, is one of the oldest crypto exchanges, founded in 2013, with spot fees of 0.20% at the base level (0.15% when paid with the HTX token), futures from 0.02% maker, and monthly proof of reserves. It lost funds in two hot-wallet incidents in 2023, and its user agreement bars users from the US, the UK, every EU member state, Singapore, Hong Kong and mainland China. It suits traders in the countries it serves who want a long-running exchange with a broad altcoin list, as long as they weigh its higher spot fees and security history.
Altrady connects to HTX as one of its supported exchanges, so weigh our view accordingly. This review is documentation-based: we checked HTX's own fee page, proof-of-reserves page, about page and user agreement (last updated September 2026) on 28 October 2026, plus public reporting on its 2023 incidents, without opening an account.
Key Takeaways
- Fees: spot costs 0.20% maker and taker at Prime0, or 0.15% with a 25% discount when paid in HTX; USDT-margined futures cost 0.02% maker and 0.06% taker, coin-margined 0.02% / 0.05%.
- Proof of reserves: the report audited on 1 October 2026 shows reserve ratios of 104% for BTC, 102% for ETH and 104% for USD stablecoins.
- 2023 incidents: HTX lost about $8 million from a hot wallet in September 2023, and about $86–113 million across HTX hot wallets and the Heco bridge in November 2023; Justin Sun said HTX would cover the losses.
- Availability: users from the US, UK, all EU member states, Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China and Russia cannot use HTX, and several other countries cannot trade its derivatives.
- Regulation: the only regulatory item HTX names on its about page is a no-objection certificate from Pakistan's virtual assets regulator (2025).
HTX at a Glance
| Item | HTX (checked 28 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2013, as Huobi; rebranded HTX in September 2023 |
| Users | "59M+ registered users, 10M+ total trading users" (HTX's own figures) |
| Products | Spot, USDT-margined and coin-margined futures, futures copy trading, margin, Earn, P2P, TradFi zone |
| Spot fees (Prime0) | 0.20% maker / 0.20% taker; 0.15% / 0.15% paid with HTX |
| Futures fees (Prime0) | USDT-M 0.02% / 0.06%; coin-M 0.02% / 0.05% |
| Proof of reserves | Monthly; audited 1 Oct 2026, BTC 104%, ETH 102%, USD stablecoins 104% |
| Security incidents | September and November 2023 hot-wallet losses |
| Prohibited | US, UK, all EU member states, Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China, Russia and others |
What Is HTX?
HTX launched spot trading in September 2013 as Huobi and became one of the largest exchanges in Asia. It moved its operations out of China after the country's 2021 ban on crypto trading, came under new ownership and, in September 2023, rebranded as HTX. Justin Sun, the founder of TRON, is closely associated with the exchange, and TRON-ecosystem assets play a large role on the platform.
Today HTX offers spot trading, USDT-margined and coin-margined futures, futures copy trading, margin trading, HTX Earn savings products, P2P trading and, since 2026, a TradFi zone. Its HTX token gives fee discounts.
HTX Fees
Spot fees
HTX uses "Prime" levels based on 30-day spot or futures volume or account assets. At Prime0, spot trading costs 0.20% maker and 0.20% taker. Paying fees with the HTX token takes 25% off, to 0.15%. Fees fall at higher Prime levels, to 0.10% at Prime3 and 0.0126% maker / 0.0218% taker at Prime11.
HTX spot fee rates by Prime level. Captured from htx.com on 28 October 2026.
Futures fees
At Prime0, USDT-margined futures cost 0.02% maker and 0.06% taker, and coin-margined futures 0.02% maker and 0.05% taker. Paying with HTX reduces USDT-margined futures fees to 0.019% / 0.057%. Funding payments come on top.
| Prime0 | Maker | Taker |
|---|---|---|
| Spot | 0.20% | 0.20% |
| Spot, paid with HTX | 0.15% | 0.15% |
| USDT-margined futures | 0.02% | 0.06% |
| Coin-margined futures | 0.02% | 0.05% |
Source: HTX fee page, checked 28 October 2026. At 0.20%, HTX's base spot fee is twice the 0.10% charged by many large exchanges; see our crypto exchange comparison.
Is HTX Safe?
Proof of reserves
HTX introduced proof of reserves in December 2022 and publishes reports with a Merkle root you can use to verify your own balance. The report audited on 1 October 2026 showed reserve ratios of 104% for BTC, 102% for ETH, 108% for TRX, 104% for USD stablecoins, 103% for the HTX token, 105% for XRP, 102% for DOGE and 109% for SOL. HTX notes that some assets sit in third-party custodial wallets.
HTX proof of reserves, audited 1 October 2026. Captured from htx.com on 28 October 2026.
Part of the reserves is held in TRX and in HTX's own token, whose value depends partly on the exchange itself. Proof of reserves shows coverage at a point in time and is not a full audit of liabilities.
The 2023 incidents
In September 2023 HTX lost about $8 million in ETH from a hot wallet. On 22 November 2023 attackers took a further estimated $86–113 million from HTX hot wallets and the Heco Chain bridge, in what security firms linked to a compromised operator key. Justin Sun said HTX would fully cover the losses, and deposits and withdrawals were paused while it investigated.
Account security
Turn on two-factor authentication and every withdrawal protection HTX offers, and keep only active trading funds on the exchange. See our guide to exchange security and bankruptcy risks.
Is HTX Regulated, and Where Is It Available?
HTX's about page names one regulatory milestone: a no-objection certificate from Pakistan's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority in 2025, making it eligible to apply for a licence there. It does not list licences in major markets.
Its user agreement (last updated September 2026) prohibits users from mainland China, the United States, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Myanmar, Russia, occupied regions of Ukraine and all member states of the European Union from using any of its services. Users in Taiwan, Israel, Iraq, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Ecuador, Kyrgyzstan and New Zealand cannot trade derivatives. Check the current agreement before you sign up, and do not use a VPN to get around it.
HTX Pros and Cons
Pros
- One of the longest-running exchanges, operating since 2013
- Low base futures maker fee (0.02%)
- Monthly proof of reserves with ratios of 100% or more on listed assets
- 25% fee discount when paying with HTX
- Broad altcoin list and futures copy trading
Cons
- Base spot fee of 0.20%, double many large exchanges
- Two hot-wallet incidents in 2023, the larger worth about $86–113 million
- Not available in the US, the UK, the EU, Singapore or Hong Kong
- Few named licences in major markets
- Part of its reserves is held in its own HTX token
Who Is HTX For?
- Good fit: traders in countries HTX serves who want a long-running exchange, futures with low maker fees and access to TRON-ecosystem and smaller altcoins.
- Not a fit: anyone in the US, UK, EU, Singapore or Hong Kong, frequent spot traders sensitive to fees, and anyone who wants an exchange licensed in their own country.
Trading HTX With Altrady
Altrady connects to HTX through an API key with trading permissions only, so your funds stay in your HTX account and Altrady cannot withdraw them. You can then trade HTX alongside the other exchanges on Altrady's list of 19+ supported exchanges:
- Smart orders: entry, stop loss and several take-profit targets in one order.
- Bots: Grid Bot, DCA Bot, Signal Bot and TradingView Bot, where supported for the market.
- Market scanners and alerts across HTX pairs.
- Portfolio and real-time PnL across all connected exchanges.
- Paper trading before going live.
Altrady charges no extra trading fees; you pay HTX's fees. See trading HTX (Huobi) with Altrady.
Altrady Grid Bot set-up with the range and grid levels on the chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HTX safe?
HTX publishes monthly proof of reserves, with ratios of 100% or more on its listed assets in October 2026, but it lost funds in two hot-wallet incidents in 2023, which it said it covered. Use 2FA and keep only trading funds on the exchange.
Is HTX the same as Huobi?
Yes. Huobi, founded in 2013, rebranded as HTX in September 2023.
Can I use HTX in the US, UK or EU?
No. HTX's user agreement prohibits users from the United States, the United Kingdom and all EU member states, as well as Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China, Russia and others.
What are HTX's trading fees?
At Prime0, spot costs 0.20% maker and taker, or 0.15% when paid with HTX. USDT-margined futures cost 0.02% maker and 0.06% taker.
Was HTX hacked?
Yes. HTX lost about $8 million from a hot wallet in September 2023, and about $86–113 million from HTX hot wallets and the Heco bridge in November 2023. Justin Sun said HTX would cover the losses.
Can I use HTX with Altrady?
Yes. Altrady connects to HTX with a trade-only API key, adding smart orders, bots, scanners and portfolio tracking. Your funds stay on HTX.
Trading cryptocurrencies, especially derivatives, involves high risk, including the loss of your capital. Fees, products and restricted countries change; check HTX's own pages before trading. This article is not financial advice.