HTX (Huobi) Referral Code 2026: Why It No Longer Works in the EU

Since 1 July 2026, the EU's MiCA regulation has applied in full: only exchanges holding a MiCA licence may offer services to residents of the 27 member states. HTX did not obtain one — it remains registered in the Seychelles and sits on the unlicensed list alongside Binance, Bitget, MEXC and Bitfinex. In practice, an HTX referral code no longer opens an account from the EU. We removed ours from this page rather than point you to a sign-up the regulation forbids — the "-20% on fees" we used to advertise is no longer legally reachable from the EU.

How the main MiCA-licensed exchanges available to EU residents compare with HTX:

Huobi Global was founded in 2013 in Beijing and quickly grew into one of the three largest crypto exchanges (with Binance and OKX). In 2017, facing Chinese crypto restrictions, Huobi moved operations outside China (Singapore, Seychelles). It saw several incidents: a 2021 hack (limited impact) and turbulence during the 2022 crypto crisis. Justin Sun (founder of TRON) acquired a significant stake in Huobi in 2022. The 2023 rebrand to HTX (Huobi Tron eXchange) reflects Sun's influence on its direction. Transparency on governance is limited.

HTX offers more than 700 cryptocurrencies in spot trading — wider than most licensed exchanges. Base fees are 0.2% maker and 0.2% taker — slightly higher than Gate.io (0.1%), which has the advantage of holding a MiCA licence. With a referral code (-20%), fees drop to 0.16% — a discount now out of reach from the EU. Fees fall with monthly volume (VIP programme) and via the native HT (Huobi Token). Futures are 0.02% maker / 0.04% taker.

HTX offers passive-income products via HTX Earn: flexible staking (withdraw any time), fixed staking (higher rates for 7-90 day lock-ups), and dual investment (structured products). Returns range from 2% to 20%+ depending on the coin and duration. HTX is especially rich in staking opportunities on TRON-native tokens (TRX, BTT, JST, USDD) — a consequence of Justin Sun's influence. These TRON tokens offer high yields but carry heightened concentration risk on the TRON ecosystem.

HTX (ex-Huobi) is registered in the Seychelles and operates under various licences by country. The MiCA framework has applied across the EU since 1 July 2026, and HTX did not obtain a licence: it can no longer legally serve clients in the 27 member states. Malta's MFSA did grant MiCA licences to several exchanges — OKX, Crypto.com and Gate.io — but not to HTX: as of late July 2026 HTX is absent from ESMA's CASP register. ESMA had questioned Malta's fast-track licensing in July 2025, but that does not change HTX's status — it never obtained a MiCA authorisation. The fact that Justin Sun is associated with regulatory controversies (the US SEC brought charges in 2023) is a further risk factor. The native HT (Huobi Token), now HTX Token, gives fee discounts, IDO launchpad access and staking. Since the rebrand and Sun's influence, its tokenomics have shifted and TRON-token integration has increased; HT lost value amid governance uncertainty. Compare with more established exchange tokens like BNB, Crypto.com's CRO or Gate.io's GT.

Huobi/HTX has a mixed security history. It was hit twice in 2023: an ~$8M hot-wallet theft in September 2023 (fully returned by the hacker for a white-hat bounty), then a November 2023 breach of its HECO Chain estimated at around $115M — Justin Sun announced user funds would be compensated. Security features are in place: 2FA, an anti-phishing code, address whitelisting. HTX publishes periodic Proof of Reserves to attest reserves cover client assets. Caution is warranted: limit short-term deposits and move significant amounts to a cold wallet.

HTX offers an advanced trading platform: spot, perpetual futures (up to 200x leverage — extremely risky), options, copy trading. The interface is complete and well designed for experienced traders, with good market depth on major altcoins. For traders specialising in TRON tokens (TRX, USDD, etc.), HTX often has the best liquidity. Beginners should start on simpler platforms like Coinbase or Gemini.

Our verdict: HTX is an exchange with a long history but a concerning recent record. Strengths: 700+ coins, 0.16% fees with a referral, a wide altcoin catalogue, decent liquidity. Weaknesses: no local licensing in many markets, the 2023 hack, opaque governance (Justin Sun), SEC controversies. Use with caution, only for coins unavailable elsewhere and with limited amounts. Prefer Gate.io for a similar catalogue with a better security record, or a regulated exchange for peace of mind.