While many crypto exchanges have reported a decline in trading activity since the start of 2025, HTX has seen increased volume in both the futures and spot markets. Furthermore, the platform’s crypto offering has expanded to over 1,000 digital currencies, giving room for diversification.
Are you looking to trade cryptocurrencies on HTX? Well, we recommend reading our guide to learn about its features before creating an account.
HTX Exchange History
HTX was launched as Huobi back in 2013. Ten years later, it rebranded to its current name, with H standing for Houbi, and T and X for Tron and Exchange, respectively.
But did it rebrand? Its founders say the move was part of their plans to expand the exchange’s global reach, now serving over 180 territories.
HTX’s Performance Since 2023
Since rebranding in 2023, HTX’s growth has been evident, steadily rising in the global ranking. For example, it is ranked as the 7th largest exchange on CoinGecko, up from 13th during its rebranding year. The growth is attributed to deep liquidity and enhanced security on the platform.
What Makes HTX Stand Out?
Several outstanding features are available for HTX users, including:
1. SmartEarn: This feature allows users holding assets like USDT, BTC, and ETH in their futures accounts to earn interest without locking them up. Note that you do not need to open a leveraged position to earn.
2. Launchpool 2.0: Would you like to be an early investor in new crypto projects? HTX has got covered. Through its Launchpool 2.0, users can stake their HTX tokens in exchange for tokens of the projects they wish to invest in.
3. Borrow & Earn: HTX users who need to access funds quickly but do not want to sell their crypto assets can borrow money through the “Borrow & Earn” feature. Additionally, you can become a lender to earn interest upon loan repayment.
Is HTX Reliable for Crypto Trading?
Given the deep liquidity in many trading pairs, HTX has increasingly become popular among traders who value low slippage. Moreover, the exchange has an easy-to-navigate user interface, providing both novice and experienced traders a seamless trading experience.
In terms of operational stability, HTX has not experienced any significant outage since rebranding, suggesting that it can handle massive trading activity without lag.
If you are looking to automate your trading activities, HTX gives you free access to its API services, allowing you to connect your exchange account with third-party trading software.
How Does the HTX Exchange Secure User Funds?
Before explaining how HTX protects customer funds, it is worth mentioning that the exchange suffered an $8 million loss in 2023 after hackers targeted its hot wallets. Since then, a mechanism that monitors threats in real time has been adopted, and a significant amount of user funds is now maintained in cold wallets.
These wallets are multi-sig, meaning they need more than one signature to become accessible. This makes it difficult for hackers to access the funds.
While HTX does everything possible to protect your funds, you are also required to play a part by adopting security measures like two-factor authentication and a strong password.
The HTX DAO
Although HTX is largely centralized, it has its decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) that enables HTX token holders to vote on various issues, such as coin listing and raised proposals.
Since the start of 2024, over 300,000 votes have been cast on numerous initiatives, leading to noticeable changes on the HTX exchange. For instance, in early July 2025, a proposal for a token governance mechanism was approved, allowing DAO members to nominate and vote on crypto projects. All winning projects are to be reviewed by the HTX team before getting listed.
Conclusion
Considering its unique features and the simple user interface, HTX can be a worthy option for anyone in search of a global crypto exchange. Moreover, its wide range of cryptocurrencies makes it an ideal choice for investors who prioritize diversification.
