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The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has secured High Court undertakings to ensure that global crypto exchange HTX, formerly known as Huobi, will not knowingly promote cryptoasset services unlawfully to UK consumers.
Following the start of proceedings, HTX has taken steps to exit the UK. It is no longer active in the UK, consumers can no longer make deposits and new UK users cannot sign up to the platform. HTX will not target, solicit or actively seek to engage UK consumers.
The settlement did not include details of any financial penalty.
The FCA took legal action against HTX for breaching UK financial promotion rules, with the start of proceedings reported in February 2026. At the time the regulator said HTX had continued to publish financial promotions in breach of the rules on its website and on social media platforms, including TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, after earlier warnings, and that its repeated attempts to engage with the firm had been ignored.
Since October 2023, firms promoting cryptoassets to UK consumers must be authorised by the FCA, have their promotions approved by an authorised firm or be registered with the FCA as a cryptoasset business. Advertising cryptoassets without complying with these rules is a criminal offence.
"Crypto firms should be under no illusion: being based overseas does not put them beyond the reach of UK law. Our action means HTX is leaving the UK and can no longer target UK consumers. The message to other firms is clear: follow the rules or face the consequences." - Steve Smart, Executive Director of Enforcement and Market Oversight, FCA
The FCA directed people to the statement on HTX's website from 16th October that says:
HTX does not provide services to persons resident in the United Kingdom.
Account registration and KYC cannot be completed from a UK IP address. Existing accounts identified as UK accounts remain restricted as part of HTX's UK exit arrangements. These restricted UK accounts cannot be used to make deposits, trade, or transact on any HTX product or service.
However, eligible individual users who continue to hold residual assets should contact HTX Customer Support to request a one-time 48-hour withdrawal window, subject to the conditions and limits of the applicable Personal Remittances General Licence and HTX’s identity, ownership, sanctions, AML, fraud and account-security controls.
If approved, the user must personally withdraw all remaining assets during the 48-hour period. The user may submit the transactions required to withdraw different asset types, and each transaction will remain subject to HTX’s applicable destination-wallet, blockchain and security controls. HTX will not transfer assets on the user’s behalf.
Reporting obligations to HM Treasury or another relevant authority may apply to a cryptoasset withdrawal. Users are responsible for determining and complying with any obligation that applies to them. HTX does not provide legal advice, and users should obtain independent legal advice where appropriate.
Following full withdrawal, the account will be closed. Affected users should contact [email protected] from the email address registered to their HTX account to provide the personal-use confirmation.
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