MEXC vs HTX (Formerly Huobi): Who Shows You Their Reserves, and Who Still Charges 0.20% on Every Spot Trade?
- MEXC is our top pick over HTX in this comparison for active traders outside both platforms' prohibited regions, on cost, breadth and audited reserve reporting.
- MEXC charges 0% maker and 0.05% taker on spot against HTX's 0.20% on both sides at Prime 0, a gap of $875 a month on $500,000 of evenly split volume.
- MEXC's monthly proof of reserves is audited by Hacken and showed BTC at 288% in August 2026, while HTX's self-published June 2026 report showed BTC at 103% across eight assets.
- Huobi Global S.A., which the UK lists under the HTX name, was sanctioned on May 26, 2026, and the EU's transaction ban on HTX took effect on August 23, 2026; HTX disputes the UK listing's reach.
- HTX still wins on BTC/USDT depth within 2% of mid, on thirteen years of operating history, and on reserve coverage of eight assets to MEXC's four.
- Neither platform serves the UK, the EU, the US, Singapore or Hong Kong under its own terms, so check the availability section before opening either account.
Why HTX Users Are Re-Checking Fees, Reserves and Sanctions in 2026
The MEXC View
Why MEXC Is Our Top Pick Over HTX: The Evidence First
Reserves you can verify, with an auditor's name on them
Fees: the effective total cost of moving volume
Coins, listings and derivatives
For a wider view, see how the major derivatives platforms compare on fees, pairs and leverage.
MEXC vs HTX at a Glance: Six Dimensions, Verified
Dimension | MEXC | HTX |
Spot fees, entry tier | 0.00% maker, 0.05% taker; 20% off with MX deduction; 600 or more spot pairs at 0% on both sides (counted August 20, 2026) | 0.20% maker, 0.20% taker at Prime 0; 25% off when fees are paid in HTX or TRX; Prime 1 at 0.16% and 0.17% |
Futures fees, entry tier (web and app) | 0.010% maker, 0.040% taker on standard USDT-M pairs; BTCUSDT Special Rate 0.000% maker, 0.020% taker; API orders 0.06% maker, 0.08% taker from June 1, 2026 | 0.020% maker, 0.060% taker on USDT-M at Prime 0; 0.018% and 0.055% at Prime 1 |
Coins and spot pairs (CoinGecko, September 3, 2026) | 1,641 coins, 2,032 pairs; Trust Score 10 out of 10 | 563 coins, 576 pairs; Trust Score 6 out of 10 |
Derivatives | Roughly 1,000 USDT-M perpetual pairs (counted August 20, 2026); up to 500x on BTCUSDT and ETHUSDT, 250x on SOL, XRP, DOGE and ADA | 336 perpetual pairs on CoinGecko; USDT-M leverage 1x to 200x under HTX's trading rules; some pairs cut to 10x in April 2026 |
Transparency | Monthly Merkle-tree proof of reserves audited by Hacken; August 2026 ratios BTC 288%, USDT 115%, USDC 114%, ETH 113% | Monthly Merkle-tree proof of reserves, self-published for 44 months; June 2026 ratios BTC 103%, ETH 100%, TRX 105%, USDs 104%, HTX 101%, XRP 104%, DOGE 100%, SOL 100% |
Availability under own terms | Prohibits the US, Canada, the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China and sanctioned territories; no MiCA authorisation for the EEA | Prohibits the US, the UK, all EU member states, Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China, Myanmar and sanctioned territories; UK sanctions designation since May 26, 2026 |
MEXC Wins on Cost and Disclosure, HTX Keeps the Asian Order Books
For how the two stack up against the wider market, see the full best crypto exchanges comparison.
Where HTX Is Stronger
HTX Hacks, the FCA Case, and UK and EU Sanctions: The 2023 to 2026 Timeline
- September 24, 2023: roughly 4,999 ETH, about $8 million at the time, left an HTX hot wallet; the attacker returned the funds the following month.
- November 22, 2023: HTX confirmed a hot-wallet breach that an HTX representative put at about $30 million, on the same day the HECO bridge lost about $87 million; deposits and withdrawals were suspended and resumed on November 25, and Justin Sun pledged full compensation, as reported by CoinDesk.
- December 2023: DefiLlama data cited by Bloomberg and crypto.news showed net outflows of about $258 million from HTX between November 25 and December 10.
- October 21, 2025: the UK Financial Conduct Authority issued High Court proceedings against Huobi Global S.A. and persons unknown behind HTX over financial promotions to UK consumers, which the FCA announced on February 10, 2026.
- May 26, 2026: the UK designated Huobi Global S.A., listed with HTX and HTX Exchange as name variations, under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, imposing an asset freeze and payment-processing prohibitions on UK persons, as reported by CoinDesk; the same day HTX stated that the listed entity is distinct from the online exchange, that the designation arrived without prior notice or supporting evidence, and that user funds are safe.
- May 29, 2026: the UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation added FAQ 186 stating that it considers the HTX exchange itself subject to the designation because Huobi Global S.A. holds more than 50% of it.
- July 23, 2026: the Council of the EU adopted its 21st Russia sanctions package, which lists HTX (Huobi Global SA) among crypto platforms subject to a transaction ban from August 23, 2026; the measure stops short of a full designation and carries no asset freeze, and eligible EU, EEA and Swiss residents may seek authorisation to withdraw funds or close accounts, as reported by Reuters and The Block.
- August 13, 2026: Reuters reported that the FCA and HTX had entered settlement talks and that the High Court had paused the promotions case until late August; no outcome had been published when we checked on September 3, 2026.
- August 31, 2026: Justin Sun, an adviser to HTX, wrote on X that HTX had been hit by a DDoS attack, that user assets were not affected, and that services had resumed.
For the practical steps involved in moving your crypto out of HTX, see our HTX transfer guide.
Availability: Who Can Legally Use Which
Availability across a wider set of platforms is covered in the complete exchange alternatives comparison.
Who Should Choose MEXC, and Who Should Stay on HTX
If you are weighing other venues, our HTX alternatives comparison covers the rest of the field side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Risk and Compliance Disclosure
Read More
- HTX Crypto Exchange Review 2026: 3.0 Out of 5, a 0.20% Entry Fee, Two 2023 Incidents and a Sanctions Timeline You Need to Read First
- HTX Withdrawal Limits in 2026: Is Your Daily Cap 0.06 BTC or 200 BTC, and How Long Does It Actually Take?
- HTX KYC Requirements in 2026: Why Do Review Sites Say 3,000 BTC When HTX Says 200?
- MEXC Fees Explained: Complete Trading, Futures & Withdrawal Fees Guide
- Is MEXC Safe? Fully Understand the Platform's Asset Protection and Security Measures
- How to Transfer Crypto Between Exchanges: The Complete Guide to Switching Crypto Exchanges Without Selling a Coin
- Crypto Exchange Fee Comparison: Only 6 of 12 Exchanges Will Show You Their Fees Without an Account
Popular Articles
View More
Bitcoin Has No Earnings or Dividends—So Where Does Its Value Come From?
A stock can be valued through revenue, profits, free cash flow, and dividends. A bond can be assessed through its interest payments, principal, maturity, and default risk. Bitcoin offers none of

"Uptober" Hits a Wall: ETF Flows Reverse as 17,733 BTC Flood the Market — Buy the Dip or Run for the Exits? | MEXC Alpha Trader Weekly Research Report
Week 2 of October 2026 Statistics period: October 7 – October 13, 2026 Data cutoff: October 13, 2026 Core Narrative Over the past week, the crypto market went through a full cycle of an early-October

MEXC vs WEEX: Does WEEX's WXT Discount Ever Beat MEXC's 0.02% BTC Futures Taker?
No, because even at WEEX's maximum published discount its futures taker fee is 0.024%, above the 0.02% MEXC lists for BTCUSDT on its fee page, which makes MEXC our pick for manual BTC and ETH futures
Hot Crypto Updates
View More
BTC Spot ETFs See $228 Million in Weekly Net Outflows【MEXC Alpha Trader – Daily Market Brief (October 19, 2026)】
I. Macro and Market Sentiment · Market data: BTC $82,372.00(+0.95%)|ETH $2,422.15(+0.64%)|SOL $104.78(+1.19%) · Market sentiment: Funding rate +0.0083%|Fear & Greed Index 59(Greed) · US equity

Bitcoin Breaks Below $81,000: Hotter-Than-Expected September CPI Revives Fed Rate Hike Bets
The crypto market just took a significant hit after US inflation data for September came in above expectations. Bitcoin (BTC) lost the $81,000 level for the first time in weeks, triggering a broad

BTC Spot ETFs See $261 Million in Net Outflows in a Single Day【MEXC Alpha Trader – Daily Market Brief (October 16, 2026)】
I. Macro & Market Sentiment · Market data: BTC $82,003(+0.58%)|ETH $2,430.53(+0.86%)|SOL $105.03(+1.12%) · Market sentiment: Funding rate +0.0033%|Fear & Greed Index 63 (Greed) · Inflation pricing:
Trending News
View More
Sberbank Eyes BTC, ETH and USDT for Crypto-Backed Loans
Sberbank is preparing to push crypto assets deeper into traditional banking by expanding its secured-lending framework to Bitcoin, Ether and Tether’s USDT. The plan is significant because it treats ma

Strategy Buys 950 Bitcoin as Holdings Return to 846,000 BTC
Strategy bought 950 Bitcoin for $75.7 million after a two-week pause. Its funding choice reveals more than the purchase size alone.
Related Articles
View More
MEXC vs WEEX: Does WEEX's WXT Discount Ever Beat MEXC's 0.02% BTC Futures Taker?
No, because even at WEEX's maximum published discount its futures taker fee is 0.024%, above the 0.02% MEXC lists for BTCUSDT on its fee page, which makes MEXC our pick for manual BTC and ETH futures

MEXC vs SafeTrade: What Happens to a $3,000 Market Order on a $540 Order Book?
MEXC is the better venue for anyone placing market orders: on 6 October 2026 CoinGecko showed $9.8 million of asks within 2% of the price on MEXC's BTC/USDT book, while SafeTrade's busiest pair, PRL/U

SafeTrade Alternatives: What Does a 13.5% Average Spread Cost on a $3,000 Trade?
MEXC is our top SafeTrade alternative within this comparison: on 6 October 2026 CoinGecko showed 1,448 coins and a 0.775% average spread on MEXC against 53 coins and 13.46% on SafeTrade.SafeTrade is s










