# HTX (formerly Huobi)

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/htx
> research date 2026-05-30 · extracted at 2026-10-07
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [HTX — official](https://www.htx.com/)

## Overview

**HTX (formerly Huobi)** is **a global crypto exchange + Justin Sun-controlled post-2022 acquisition + Sep 2023 "HTX" rebrand to mark 10-year anniversary** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [global-cro]</sup>. **2025 baseline**: HTX 10M+ users worldwide (a decade+ of operations); HTX brand name — H = Huobi heritage + T = TRON ecosystem commitment + X = exchange + Roman numeral 10 representing HTX 10-year anniversary; **May 2026 UK government sanctions HTX for alleged violations of international sanctions against Russia**; HTX has obtained licenses or pursued compliance in Gibraltar + Lithuania + Dubai + BVI + Australia.

**Distinctive HTX positioning** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [3][3], [4][4]</sup>:
- **Justin Sun-controlled global crypto exchange + Sep 2023 "HTX" rebrand to mark 10-year anniversary** (HTX brand name — H = Huobi heritage + T = TRON ecosystem commitment + X = exchange + Roman numeral 10 representing 10-year anniversary)
- **HTX 10M+ users worldwide** (a decade+ of operations; lackluster global adoption per industry observers)
- **2022 Justin Sun (cryptocurrency billionaire + TRON founder) acquires Huobi** — distinctive Huobi ownership transfer
- **Sep 2023 — Huobi Global rebrands to HTX** — distinctive HTX 10-year anniversary rebrand (Justin Sun strategic global positioning; controversial similarities to FTX brand drew industry criticism)
- **May 2026 UK government sanctions HTX** for alleged violations of international sanctions against Russia
- **HTX multi-jurisdiction compliance pursuit**: Gibraltar + Lithuania + Dubai + BVI + Australia + others
- **HTX received industry awards**: "Most Trustworthy Crypto Exchanges 2025" + "Best Centralized Exchange 2024"

## History

**Sep 2013 — Huobi founded by Leon Li** in Beijing, China — distinctive Chinese crypto exchange heritage.

**2017 — Chinese government bans crypto trading exchanges** → Huobi relocates internationally (Seychelles + Singapore + global expansion).

**2022 — Justin Sun (cryptocurrency billionaire + TRON founder) acquires Huobi** — distinctive Huobi ownership transfer.

**Sep 2023 — Huobi Global rebrands to HTX** — distinctive HTX 10-year anniversary rebrand (HTX brand name — H = Huobi heritage + T = TRON ecosystem commitment + X = exchange + Roman numeral 10 representing 10-year anniversary; controversial similarities to FTX brand drew industry criticism) <sup>[2][2], [4][4]</sup>.

**2024 — HTX named "Best Centralized Exchange 2024"** industry award.

**May 2026 — UK government sanctions HTX** for alleged violations of international sanctions against Russia <sup>[2][2]</sup>.

**2025 — HTX 10M+ users worldwide; "Most Trustworthy Crypto Exchanges 2025" industry award** <sup>[1][1]</sup>.

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **HTX** (Seychelles entity; Justin Sun-controlled post-2022 acquisition).

**Major shareholders**: **Justin Sun (TRON founder + cryptocurrency billionaire; HTX advisor + controlling shareholder) + Leon Li (Huobi founder; advisory) + crypto venture capital + private float**.

**Regulators**: **Seychelles + Gibraltar + Lithuania VASP + Dubai VARA + BVI + Australia AUSTRAC compliance pursuit**.

## Technical integration

HTX mobile app (iOS + Android) + htx.com web + HTX API (REST + WebSocket + FIX); HTX Spot + HTX Derivatives + HTX Earn + HTX Launchpad + HTX Primelist + **HTX integrated with TRON ecosystem** (distinctive Justin Sun TRON ecosystem ties); USDT + USDC + BTC + ETH + TRX funding; cross-chain bridging.

**HTX ecosystem synergies**: HTX + TRON + Poloniex — distinctive Justin Sun-controlled crypto exchange ecosystem alignment.

## Users & growth

**2025**: HTX 10M+ users worldwide (a decade+ of operations; lackluster global adoption per industry observers compared to other Chinese-origin exchanges).

## Use cases

Global (ex-US; ex-China) crypto retail + derivatives + spot + on-chain trading via HTX mobile + web + API; **HTX integrated with TRON ecosystem** (distinctive Justin Sun TRON ecosystem ties); HTX Spot + HTX Derivatives + HTX Earn + HTX Launchpad + HTX Primelist; **HTX ecosystem synergies**: HTX + TRON + Poloniex (distinctive Justin Sun-controlled crypto exchange ecosystem alignment).

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: HTX (Seychelles entity; Justin Sun-controlled post-2022 acquisition).

**Justin Sun ecosystem sister entities**: **HTX (formerly Huobi)** + **TRON (Justin Sun's blockchain network)** + **Poloniex (Justin Sun-controlled US crypto exchange; post-2019 acquisition from Circle for $400M)** + **BitTorrent (Justin Sun-controlled post-2018 acquisition for $140M)** + **Steemit (Justin Sun-controlled post-2020 acquisition controversy)**.

**Major global centralized crypto exchange competitors**: [Binance](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/binance) (global #1 by volume; CZ-founded; 2023 US DOJ $4.3B settlement) + [Coinbase](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/coinbase) (US #1; NASDAQ: COIN) + [OKX Wallet](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/okx-wallet) (global top-5; Star Xu-founded) + [Bybit](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/bybit) (global top-5; Ben Zhou-founded; Dubai HQ; 2025 $1.5B hack survival) + [Bitget](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/bitget) (top-4 derivatives; 150M+ users; Universal Exchange UEX) + [KuCoin](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/kucoin) (global top-5; 2025 DOJ $297M settlement + 2026 CFTC permanent US exit) + [MEXC](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/mexc) (#3 global CEX by spot volume Dec 2025) + [Gemini](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/gemini) (US Winklevoss; Sep 12 2025 NASDAQ IPO at $3.3B) + [Kraken](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/kraken) (US #2).

**Regulators**: Seychelles + Gibraltar + Lithuania VASP + Dubai VARA + BVI + Australia AUSTRAC compliance pursuit.

## Fun facts

- **Justin Sun-controlled global crypto exchange + Sep 2023 "HTX" rebrand to mark 10-year anniversary**.
- **HTX brand name** — H = Huobi heritage + T = TRON ecosystem commitment + X = exchange + Roman numeral 10 representing 10-year anniversary.
- **HTX 10M+ users worldwide** (a decade+ of operations; lackluster global adoption per industry observers).
- **2022 Justin Sun (cryptocurrency billionaire + TRON founder) acquires Huobi** — distinctive Huobi ownership transfer.
- **Sep 2023 Huobi Global rebrands to HTX** — distinctive HTX 10-year anniversary rebrand (controversial similarities to FTX brand drew industry criticism).
- **May 2026 UK government sanctions HTX** for alleged violations of international sanctions against Russia.
- **HTX ecosystem synergies**: HTX + TRON + Poloniex (distinctive Justin Sun-controlled crypto exchange ecosystem alignment).
- **Industry awards**: "Most Trustworthy Crypto Exchanges 2025" + "Best Centralized Exchange 2024".

## Comparison

| Feature | HTX (formerly Huobi) | [Binance](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/binance) (global #1 by volume rival) | [OKX Wallet](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/okx-wallet) (global top-5 + Chinese-origin rival; formerly OKCoin) | [KuCoin](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/kucoin) (global top-5 + 2025 DOJ $297M settlement + 2026 CFTC permanent US exit rival) | [MEXC](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/mexc) (#3 global CEX by spot volume Dec 2025 rival) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **HTX (Seychelles entity; Justin Sun-controlled post-2022 acquisition)** | Binance Holdings Ltd (Cayman Islands) | OKEx Cayman Ltd (Seychelles HQ) | Mek Global Limited (Seychelles entity; permanent US exit post-Mar 2026 CFTC order) | MEXC Global (Singapore-founded; Seychelles entity) |
| Type | **Justin Sun-controlled global crypto exchange + Sep 2023 HTX rebrand to mark 10-year anniversary + 10M+ users + HTX ecosystem synergies (HTX + TRON + Poloniex)** | Global #1 by volume + 250M+ users + Binance Smart Chain (BNB Chain) + 2023 US DOJ $4.3B settlement | Global top-5 + OKX Wallet + OKX Chain + Star Xu founder | Global top-5 + 2025 DOJ $297M settlement + 2026 CFTC permanent US exit + 38M+ users worldwide + 1.5M US users at time of DOJ settlement | #3 global CEX by spot volume Dec 2025 + 40M+ users in 170+ countries + 2,278 spot pairs (6x competitors) + altcoin trading volume growth leader |
| Country | Seychelles + 100+ countries (ex-US; ex-China) | Cayman Islands + global (ex-US) | Seychelles + global | Seychelles + permanent US exit post-Mar 2026 | Seychelles + 170+ countries (ex-US) |
| Distinctive | **Sep 2013 Huobi founding by Leon Li in Beijing; 2017 Chinese government crypto trading ban → Huobi international relocation; 2022 Justin Sun (TRON founder) Huobi acquisition; Sep 2023 HTX rebrand (controversial FTX similarities); May 2026 UK government Russia sanctions; HTX ecosystem synergies (HTX + TRON + Poloniex)** | 2017 founding by CZ; 2023 US DOJ $4.3B settlement + CZ 4-month US prison + permanent CEO ban | 2017 founding (formerly OKCoin); Star Xu founder; founded as OKEx then renamed OKX | 2017 founding by Chun "Michael" Gan + Ke "Eric" Tang; Jan 2025 DOJ $297M settlement + Mar 2026 CFTC permanent US exit | Apr 2018 founding as MXC; 2021 MEXC rename; 2025 #3 global CEX by spot volume Dec 2025 |

## Status

**Active, Justin Sun-controlled global crypto exchange + Sep 2023 "HTX" rebrand to mark 10-year anniversary** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [3][3], [4][4]</sup>:
- **HTX (Seychelles entity; Justin Sun-controlled post-2022 acquisition)** since Sep 2013 Huobi founding by Leon Li in Beijing.
- **10M+ users worldwide; 2017 Chinese crypto trading ban → international relocation; 2022 Justin Sun Huobi acquisition; Sep 2023 HTX rebrand**.
- **May 2026 UK government Russia sanctions**.
- **Seychelles + Gibraltar + Lithuania VASP + Dubai VARA + BVI + Australia AUSTRAC compliance pursuit**.

## Sources

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTX_(cryptocurrency_exchange) "HTX (cryptocurrency exchange) — Wikipedia"
[2]: https://www.theblock.co/post/250931/justin-sun-hopes-htx-rebrand-will-help-exchange-keep-pace-with-rivals-global-expansion "Justin Sun hopes HTX rebrand will help exchange keep pace with rivals' global expansion — The Block"
[3]: https://square.htx.com/huobi-global-rebrands-to-htx-embarking-on-a-new-journey-to-the-next-decade/ "Huobi Global Rebrands to HTX: Embarking on a New Journey to the Next Decade — HTX Square"
[4]: https://beincrypto.com/huobi-crypto-exchange-htx-global-journey/ "Huobi 10th Anniversary: Rebranding to HTX & Global Expansion — BeInCrypto"

- [1] [HTX (cryptocurrency exchange) — Wikipedia][1]
- [2] [Justin Sun hopes HTX rebrand will help exchange keep pace with rivals' global expansion — The Block][2]
- [3] [Huobi Global Rebrands to HTX: Embarking on a New Journey to the Next Decade — HTX Square][3]
- [4] [Huobi 10th Anniversary: Rebranding to HTX & Global Expansion — BeInCrypto][4]
- [global-cro] In-corpus: `reports/countries/global.md`

## Source

Biography extracted from [htx.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/htx). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.