FCA secures an end to HTX crypto promotions targeting UK consumers

A settlement announced after legal proceedings

The Financial Conduct Authority announced on October 29, 2026, that it had secured High Court undertakings to prevent HTX, formerly Huobi, from knowingly and unlawfully promoting crypto services to UK consumers. The regulator says it reached a settlement with Huobi Global. The announcement concerns compliance with UK financial promotion rules. It should not be presented as a worldwide shutdown of the exchange or a decision affecting every customer regardless of country.

The FCA says it began proceedings in October 2025 following breaches of UK rules and repeated unsuccessful attempts to engage. HTX subsequently took steps to leave the local market. According to the court information accompanying the announcement, the settlement does not constitute an admission of liability by the parties. This qualification distinguishes undertakings governing future conduct from a judgment definitively establishing every allegation. It does not diminish the practical effect of the restrictions the regulator now describes.

UK deposits and registrations are closed

The FCA says HTX is no longer active in the UK: consumers cannot deposit funds and new UK users cannot register. The exchange must not target, solicit, or actively seek to engage those consumers. The practical scope therefore goes beyond changing advertising wording. Commercial access is restricted, and affected existing accounts should not be treated as ordinary accounts that can continue every operation offered elsewhere without limitation.

For customers still holding assets, the FCA directs users to HTX's published arrangements. In its operational notice, the exchange says accounts identified as UK accounts remain restricted: they cannot be used for deposits, trading, or other usual transactions. Exit arrangements must be read separately from those prohibitions. A remaining account balance therefore does not mean every function has been reactivated or that a user should employ an intermediary claiming to recover funds on their behalf.

Residual withdrawals have specific conditions

HTX describes a route for eligible individuals to request an exceptional forty-eight-hour withdrawal window from support. Opening it depends on checks including identity, asset ownership, sanctions, anti-money laundering, and security. This is not a window automatically opened to every account when the notice was published. An authorized user must personally execute the necessary withdrawals; the exchange says it does not transfer assets on the user's behalf.

The account is to be closed after complete withdrawal. Applicable license conditions and potential reporting obligations remain separate from technical permission to transact. The documents complement one another: the FCA explains the settlement and end to commercial targeting, while HTX describes the residual-asset process. The new development on October 29 is the announcement of the settlement, not creation of a general opportunity to resume UK trading.