HTX (Huobi) Exchange Review 2025 - Features, Fees, and Security

Looking for an up‑to‑date take on the platform that was once called Huobi? This HTX exchange review breaks down everything you need to know about the rebranded exchange, its product suite, fees, security, and why it matters in the crowded 2025 crypto market.

Key Takeaways

• HTX ranks in the top 5 global exchanges with >$4billion daily volume and 45million users.
• Offers >900 trading pairs, futures, staking, SmartEarn, and a launchpad.
• Distinctive VIP program provides permanent fee discounts; no time‑limited promos.
• Investor Protection Fund earmarks 20% of quarterly profit for HT token buy‑backs.
• Not available in the US, mainland China, and several other jurisdictions.

What Is HTX?

HTX the global crypto exchange that rebranded from Huobi in September 2023 was founded in 2013 by LeonLi, a former Oracle engineer. After moving its legal base to the Seychelles, HTX now serves over 45million users in 160+ countries and consistently processes more than $4billion in daily trading volume.

Market Position and Growth

In Q22025 HTX captured roughly 4.7% of worldwide exchange volume, up from 3.2% at the end of 2024. Net deposits surged 210% in Q12025, while many rivals saw flat or declining activity. The platform’s strength comes from deep penetration in Asian markets (68% of its volume) and an aggressive push into emerging regions of Africa and Latin America, where user growth hit 82% in Q12025.

Product Suite - What You Can Trade

HTX supports a broad spectrum of assets and services:

• Spot trading of 700‑900 cryptocurrencies across 900+ pairs.
• Futures contracts with up to 5× leverage on selected assets.
• Margin trading, copy‑trading for professional accounts.
• SmartEarn a yield‑generation product that locks assets for fixed terms, offering up to 15% annualized returns.
• Launchpool HTX’s token launchpad that allocates new project tokens to eligible participants.
• Staking services for native and third‑party tokens.
• Zero‑cost futures trading for select markets, a rare feature among top exchanges.

The platform also integrates the Huobi Ecosystem Chain (HECO) a high‑efficiency public blockchain that powers decentralized apps and cross‑chain swaps within the HTX ecosystem, giving developers a low‑cost alternative to Ethereum.

Fees, Discounts, and VIP Membership

HTX follows a maker‑taker model with fees starting at 0.2% for both sides. What sets it apart is the subscription‑based VIP Membership a tiered program that grants perpetual fee discounts and higher withdrawal limits. Unlike Binance’s time‑limited promos, HTX’s VIP discounts persist as long as the subscription is active.

Typical fee tiers:

• VIP0 (no subscription): 0.2% maker / 0.2% taker.
• VIP1 (monthly $30): 0.15% maker / 0.18% taker.
• VIP2 (monthly $120): 0.10% maker / 0.13% taker.

Withdrawal fees are flat for most major coins, and VIP members enjoy higher daily limits.

Security and Trust Mechanisms

Security remains a top priority. HTX employs a layered approach:

• Cold storage for 98% of user funds.
• Real‑time withdrawal monitoring and anti‑phishing codes.
• Merkle‑tree proof‑of‑reserves published quarterly.
• Responsive incident handling - past breaches were compensated promptly with HT token buy‑backs.

The exchange also runs an Investor Protection Fund a quarterly pool that uses 20% of net profit to repurchase HT tokens for users, adding an extra layer of financial safety.

User Experience - Interface and Support

HTX’s web UI mirrors TradingView charts, offering market, limit, stop‑limit, and trigger orders. A one‑click swap feature added in Q22025 lets users convert assets instantly without leaving the spot screen.

Onboarding is quick: KYC takes 15‑30minutes on average. The platform provides English and Chinese documentation, though non‑English speakers may find some advanced guides missing.

Customer support response times average under 2hours for VIP tickets and about 12hours for standard inquiries. Community channels include a Telegram group of 150k+ members and a subreddit (r/HTX) with 45k subscribers.

Regulatory Landscape and Geographic Limits

HTX is barred from operating in the United States, mainland China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Hong Kong, and Singapore. These restrictions shave off a sizable potential user base, especially in the US where crypto adoption remains high.

To offset the gap, HTX is expanding fiat on‑ramps in 15 new countries and targeting African and Latin American markets where regulatory environments are friendlier.

Pros and Cons

How HTX Stacks Up Against Top Competitors

Bottom Line - Should You Trade on HTX?

If you value a deep Asian market presence, a broad range of on‑chain products, and permanent fee discounts, HTX is a solid choice. Its security track record and the Investor Protection Fund add confidence for long‑term holders. However, if you reside in the US or need advanced derivatives like perpetual swaps with ultra‑high leverage, you’ll have to look elsewhere.