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{"actor":"system:backfill","investigation_id":"209069f2-af57-47e8-baef-8d5873d176e2","kind":"publish","page_slug":"htx","published_at":"2026-05-28T08:20:54.983Z","sequence_num":1,"snapshot":{"content_type":"investigation","entity_name":"HTX","sections":[{"content":"","heading":"","severity":"medium","sources":[{"credibility":3,"name":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTX_(cryptocurrency_exchange)","type":"other","url":""},{"credibility":3,"name":"https://www.theblock.co/post/250931/justin-sun-hopes-htx-rebrand-will-help-exchange-keep-pace-with-rivals-global-expansion","type":"other","url":""},{"credibility":3,"name":"https://protos.com/justin-sun-advised-htx-plays-games-with-its-reserves/","type":"other","url":""}]},{"content":"","heading":"","severity":"medium","sources":[{"credibility":3,"name":"https://www.elliptic.co/blog/uk-designates-cryptoasset-exchanges-in-sweeping-new-sanctions-package","type":"other","url":""},{"credibility":3,"name":"https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/uk-sanctions-crypto-entities-russian-trade-blockade-evasion-may-2026/","type":"other","url":""},{"credibility":3,"name":"https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-26/crypto-firm-htx-sanctioned-by-uk-for-helping-kremlin-move-money","type":"other","url":""},{"credibility":3,"name":"https://crypto.news/htx-denies-uk-sanctions-tied-to-russia/","type":"other","url":""},{"credibility":3,"name":"https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/05/27/major-crypto-exchanges-increase-transfer-scrutiny-with-htx-over-uk-sanctions","type":"other","url":""}]},{"content":"","heading":"","severity":"medium","sources":[{"credibility":3,"name":"https://www.coindesk.com/business/2023/09/25/crypto-exchange-htx-lost-8m-of-ether-due-to-a-hack-justin-sun-says","type":"other","url":""},{"credibility":3,"name":"https://cryptoslate.com/huobi-hacker-returns-4997-eth-stolen-via-hot-wallet-breach-receives-400k-bounty/","type":"other","url":""},{"credibility":3,"name":"https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/23/htx-heco-chain-crypto-hack-115-million-stolen-so-far.html","type":"other","url":""},{"credibility":3,"name":"https://www.theblock.co/post/284107/heco-bridge-exploiters-launder-145-million-usd-eth-tornado-cash","type":"other","url":""},{"credibility":3,"name":"https://hacken.io/insights/heco-bridge-hack-explained/","type":"other","url":""},{"credibility":3,"name":"https://decrypt.co/205465/justin-sun-owned-crypto-exchange-poloniex-hacked-60m","type":"other","url":""}]},{"content":"","heading":"","severity":"medium","sources":[{"credibility":3,"name":"https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023-59","type":"other","url":""},{"credibility":3,"name":"https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2023/03/22/tron-founder-justin-sun-sued-by-us-sec-on-securities-market-manipulation-charges","type":"other","url":""},{"credibility":3,"name":"https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-23/sec-case-against-crypto-mogul-sun-stirs-questions-over-huobi","type":"other","url":""}]},{"content":"","heading":"","severity":"medium","sources":[{"credibility":3,"name":"https://protos.com/justin-sun-advised-htx-plays-games-with-its-reserves/","type":"other","url":""},{"credibility":3,"name":"https://protos.com/justin-sun-stored-usdd-reserves-at-htx-for-proof-of-reserves/","type":"other","url":""},{"credibility":3,"name":"https://protos.com/someone-is-taking-advantage-of-htxs-reserves/","type":"other","url":""}]},{"content":"","heading":"","severity":"medium","sources":[{"credibility":3,"name":"https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-action-against-htx-illegal-financial-promotions","type":"other","url":""},{"credibility":3,"name":"https://www.fca.org.uk/news/warnings/huobicom-htxcom-htx-and-or-huobi-global-and-or-huobi","type":"other","url":""},{"credibility":3,"name":"https://cryptobriefing.com/fca-legal-action-against-htx/","type":"other","url":""}]},{"content":"","heading":"","severity":"medium","sources":[{"credibility":3,"name":"https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2024/02/27/htx-withdraws-hong-kong-crypto-exchange-application","type":"other","url":""},{"credibility":3,"name":"https://cryptonews.com/news/htx-withdraws-hong-kong-crypto-license-application-again/","type":"other","url":""}]},{"content":"","heading":"","severity":"medium","sources":[{"credibility":3,"name":"https://www.coindesk.com/business/2024/01/19/htx-services-restored-after-exchange-hit-by-ddos-attack-justin-sun","type":"other","url":""},{"credibility":3,"name":"https://dailyhodl.com/2024/01/20/crypto-exchange-giant-htx-hit-with-ddos-attack-justin-sun-says-user-funds-are-safe/","type":"other","url":""}]},{"content":"","heading":"","severity":"medium","sources":[{"credibility":3,"name":"https://www.coindesk.com/business/2023/12/13/htx-poloniex-assets-are-100-safe-says-justin-sun-after-200m-hack","type":"other","url":""},{"credibility":3,"name":"https://crypto.news/htx-denies-uk-sanctions-tied-to-russia/","type":"other","url":""},{"credibility":3,"name":"https://protos.com/htx-misrepresents-huobi-global-s-a-after-uk-sanctions/","type":"other","url":""}]}],"sources_used":[],"summary":"HTX (formerly Huobi Global) is one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, rebranded in September 2023 following the de facto acquisition of Huobi by interests linked to Justin Sun in late 2022. The exchange has suffered at least three significant security incidents totaling over $130 million in losses since September 2023, and in May 2026 was sanctioned by the UK government for alleged facilitation of Russian sanctions evasion — the first such crypto-exchange designation under the UK Russia sanctions framework. HTX also faces FCA legal proceedings over illegal financial promotions to UK consumers, has withdrawn its Hong Kong licensing applications twice, and has been publicly criticized for opaque reserve practices.","timeline":[{"date":"2022-10-01","event":"Huobi Global acquired by About Capital Management; Justin Sun joins as global adviser.","source":""},{"date":"2023-03-22","event":"SEC files charges against Justin Sun, Tron Foundation, and BitTorrent for unregistered securities and market manipulation involving TRX and BTT; Huobi/HTX reserves flagged as holding ~18% TRX.","source":""},{"date":"2023-09-14","event":"Huobi Global officially rebrands to HTX.","source":""},{"date":"2023-09-24","event":"HTX hot wallet breached; 4,999 ETH (~$7.9 million) stolen via private key compromise.","source":""},{"date":"2023-10-08","event":"UK FCA places HTX on its Warning List on the day the UK crypto financial promotions regime takes effect.","source":""},{"date":"2023-11-10","event":"Justin Sun-linked Poloniex exchange hacked for approximately $126–132 million.","source":""},{"date":"2023-11-22","event":"HTX hot wallets and HECO Chain bridge simultaneously exploited; combined losses estimated at $100–115 million.","source":""},{"date":"2024-01-19","event":"HTX services disrupted for ~15 minutes by a DDoS attack; Justin Sun confirms user funds safe.","source":""},{"date":"2024-01-25","event":"HECO Chain formally discontinued.","source":""},{"date":"2024-02-26","event":"HTX resubmits Hong Kong SFC virtual asset trading platform license application.","source":""},{"date":"2024-05-14","event":"HTX withdraws Hong Kong SFC application a second time; SFC orders Huobi HK operations to cease by August 2024.","source":""},{"date":"2024-07-08","event":"Protos publishes investigation alleging HTX reserves include double-counted TRX and substantial Sun-controlled synthetic assets.","source":""},{"date":"2026-02-10","event":"UK FCA initiates legal proceedings against HTX for illegal financial promotions — first such action against a crypto exchange in the UK.","source":""},{"date":"2026-05-26","event":"UK government sanctions Huobi Global S.A. (HTX) under the Russia sanctions framework for alleged facilitation of Russian sanctions evasion via A7 network and Garantex. First crypto exchange designated under Regulation 17A.","source":""},{"date":"2026-05-27","event":"Major crypto exchanges increase transfer scrutiny involving HTX following UK sanctions; HTX denies all allegations.","source":""}]},"v":1}