Huobi (HTX)'s global compliance turmoil continues: from the "Big Four" to high regulatory pressure

Release Date: September 1, 2025

1. From Huobi to HTX: Multiple Name Changes and Registration Migrations

• Founded in 2013 : Huobi was founded in Beijing, China and was once one of the largest Bitcoin platforms in the Chinese market.

• Withdrew from mainland China in 2017 : Due to the Chinese government's ban on ICOs and exchanges, Huobi moved its headquarters to Singapore.

• 2019–2021 : The place of registration was changed to Seychelles and the Caribbean, and the business gradually turned to globalization.

• Renamed HTX in 2023 : The official claim is a "globalization strategy upgrade", but the outside world interprets it as "brand drift" to weaken regulatory pressure in the Chinese market.

👉 Industry insiders believe that the frequent name changes and changes in registered locations have exposed Huobi’s vulnerability in its compliance identity.

2. Regulatory Challenges: Many Countries Take Tighter Attitudes

USA

• Although Huobi does not directly target retail users in the United States, its global operating structure is still indirectly monitored by the SEC and CFTC.

• The U.S. market has extremely high compliance requirements for crypto platforms, and Huobi currently has not obtained any formal licenses.

Japan

• In 2023, Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) named Huobi and issued a warning for "operating without a license."

• Huobi subsequently acquired Sakura Exchange in an attempt to enter Japan in compliance with regulations, but it still needs to continue to be subject to strict supervision.

Malaysia

• The Securities Commission (SC) placed Huobi on its investor warning list in 2023 for “unlicensed securities activities.”

• Investors are advised to avoid using the platform for crypto trading.

Singapore

• The Monetary Authority of Macao (MAS) has imposed stricter AML (anti-money laundering) compliance requirements on Huobi.

• Despite moving its headquarters to Singapore, Huobi has never been able to obtain a full local license.

Europe

• With the EU's MiCA (market regulatory framework for crypto assets) about to be fully implemented, whether Huobi can obtain a license has become a key issue.

• Huobi’s current regulatory status in the EU remains unclear and it fails to appear on the public licensing list.

👉 These facts show that Huobi’s compliance status in many parts of the world remains unclear.

3. Investor complaints continue: withdrawal and account security issues

On communities such as Reddit, Twitter, and Telegram, as well as third-party rights protection platforms, investors' complaints against Huobi (HTX) mainly focus on:

1. Withdrawal delays

• Some users reported that after submitting a withdrawal application, they waited for several days or even weeks but still did not receive their funds;

• Official customer service responses mostly referred to "system maintenance" or "compliance review," but failed to provide a clear timetable.

2. Account freeze

• Some investors claim their funds have been temporarily frozen, usually due to "abnormal transactions" or "KYC review failure";

• But users generally complain about a lack of transparency in the review process.

3. Inefficient customer service

• Email communication takes too long, and some user feedback issues are not substantially resolved;

• Although the official Telegram community is active, it mostly consists of unified replies from administrators.

👉 These situations are highly consistent with the "difficulty in withdrawing funds and poor communication" pattern commonly seen on high-risk platforms.

IV. Risk Warnings for Third-Party Information Platforms

• WikiFX : Its Huobi page displays trading products and platform size, but also marks "medium potential risk" to remind users of insufficient compliance.

• TraderKnows : It points out that Huobi has changed its registered place many times, and there is suspicion of compliance arbitrage; and it mentions that its invitation code registration mechanism is suspected of being a Ponzi scheme.

• BrokersView : Lists Huobi as an “unregulated platform” in some markets, warning investors to be vigilant.

Despite different expressions, the three platforms have a consensus that there are still significant uncertainties regarding Huobi (HTX)’s operational compliance .

5. The global compliance environment is tightening

Currently, global regulation of crypto assets has tightened significantly:

• United States : AML/KYC requirements for exchanges are unprecedentedly strict.

• Europe : The MiCA framework will be fully implemented in 2024-2025, and crypto companies must obtain licenses.

• Asia : Japan, South Korea, and Singapore are all strengthening their licensing systems.

In this context, if Huobi fails to obtain licenses in its core markets, it may face business contraction or even be forced to withdraw from some regions in the future.

6. News Conclusions and Investment Tips

As one of the early "Big Four" exchanges, Huobi (HTX) maintains a certain influence in the global crypto market. However, its frequent name changes, cross-regional migrations, lack of clear licenses , and investor complaints regarding withdrawals and account security have placed it on high-risk watchlists.

⚠️Investment Tips :

• When choosing Huobi (HTX), investors should confirm whether it holds a valid regulatory license in their home country;

• Be highly vigilant against complaints about "withdrawal delays, account freezes";

• It is recommended to give priority to compliant platforms that have obtained authoritative regulatory licenses such as FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), MAS (Singapore), NFA/CFTC (USA), etc.

Conclusion : Huobi (HTX) is at a critical turning point in terms of compliance and market positioning. Investors should not be misled by brand history and popularity, and should prioritize regulatory transparency and fund security.