HTX (formerly Huobi) is an established cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2013. Following its acquisition by Justin Sun in 2022, it was rebranded to HTX. This article compares Binance and HTX across five dimensions: scale, compliance, supported cryptocurrencies, derivatives, and security. Before proceeding, you can open the Binance official website for reference, or directly download the Binance official app. iOS users may refer to the iOS Installation Guide.
Summary
Binance leads comprehensively across most metrics; HTX is notable for its long operating history and established user base in specific demographics. Objectively, since its rebranding in 2022, HTX has been undergoing product and brand restructuring, and currently, its comprehensive capabilities show a noticeable gap compared to Binance. For new users opening their first account, Binance is generally the more robust choice in the majority of scenarios; for existing HTX users, continuing to monitor its product iterations is an option.
1. Company Background
| Dimension | Binance | HTX |
|---|---|---|
| Founding Year | 2017 | 2013 (Established) |
| Original Name | Binance | Huobi (Rebranded to HTX in 2022) |
| Headquarters | Dubai, UAE | Seychelles |
| Current Leadership | Richard Teng (CZ resigned as CEO) | Justin Sun (Advisor/Owner) |
| Global Users | 200 Million+ | 45 Million+ |
| Historical Presence | Registered internationally | Originated in China (Operated domestically 2013-2017) |
HTX is a veteran platform in the cryptocurrency industry, having been the largest exchange in China prior to 2017. Following the 2022 acquisition and rebranding, it has undergone significant brand restructuring and is currently in a recovery phase.
2. Scale and Market Share
| Dimension | Binance | HTX |
|---|---|---|
| 24h Spot Volume | Global No. 1 | Global No. 6-9 |
| 24h Derivatives Volume | Global No. 1 | Global No. 7-10 |
| Listed Cryptocurrencies | 600+ | 700+ |
| Spot Trading Pairs | 1,400+ | 900+ |
| Perpetual Contract Pairs | 280+ | 200+ |
While HTX lists a substantial number of tokens (exceeding Binance's count), the market depth for individual tokens is generally lower than on Binance. In terms of trading volume, HTX currently ranks between 6th and 9th globally, indicating a significant gap when compared to Binance.
3. Trading Fee Comparison
| Item | Binance | HTX |
|---|---|---|
| Spot Maker Fee | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Spot Taker Fee | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Token Deduction Discount | BNB 25% | HT/HTX 30% |
| Perpetual Maker Fee | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Perpetual Taker Fee | 0.05% | 0.05% |
HTX's standard spot trading fees are notably higher (0.2% vs 0.1%), although it offers a slightly larger discount for using its native token (30% vs 25%). Factoring in the token deduction, HTX's effective rate is approximately 0.14%, which remains higher than Binance's 0.075%.
4. Contracts and Derivatives
| Dimension | Binance | HTX |
|---|---|---|
| Perpetual Contract Pairs | 280+ | 200+ |
| Maximum Leverage | 125x | 125x |
| Matching Speed | Top Tier | Above Average |
| Deep Liquidity for Large Orders | Industry Leading | Average |
| Copy Trading Ecosystem | Average | Average |
Binance holds a clear advantage in contract market depth, resulting in significantly lower slippage for large positions. While HTX's contract platform is functional, its depth and overall user experience trail behind Binance.
5. Spot Market Depth
| Asset | Binance Daily Volume | HTX Daily Volume |
|---|---|---|
| BTC/USDT | Tens of Billions USD | Billions USD |
| ETH/USDT | Tens of Billions USD | Billions USD |
| Major Altcoins | Hundreds of Millions USD | Tens of Millions USD |
Binance's spot market depth is generally 5 to 10 times that of HTX. For traders executing large volume orders (e.g., individual trades exceeding tens of thousands of dollars), Binance's advantage in minimizing slippage is substantial.
6. Web3 and Wallets
| Feature | Binance | HTX |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in Web3 Wallet | Yes | Yes |
| Supported Public Chains | 80+ | 60+ |
| NFT Marketplace | Yes | Yes (Smaller scale) |
| Inscriptions | Partial | Partial |
Binance initiated its Web3 development earlier, resulting in a more comprehensive ecosystem. HTX's Web3 wallet provides fundamental functionalities but exhibits fewer innovative features.
7. Compliance and Security
| Dimension | Binance | HTX |
|---|---|---|
| Global Licenses | 20+ Countries | Not publicly detailed |
| Proof of Reserves | Published Monthly | Published Monthly |
| User Protection Fund | SAFU $1 Billion | Approx. $100 Million |
| Historical Security Incidents | 2019 | Major hack in 2023 |
| Transparency | Industry Top Tier | Average |
HTX experienced a significant security breach in 2023. Although management committed to full compensation, the incident raised concerns regarding HTX's security infrastructure. Comparatively, Binance's $1 billion SAFU fund is approximately 10 times the size of HTX's equivalent fund.
8. Fiat Deposits and Localization
| Dimension | Binance | HTX |
|---|---|---|
| P2P Merchants | Industry Highest | High |
| Multilingual Interface | Comprehensive | Comprehensive |
| Customer Support | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| Community Size | Large | Large (Established users) |
| Established User Base | Large | Large |
HTX benefits from a decade of community operation, maintaining strong brand recognition among its early user base. However, its growth rate of new users is noticeably slower than that of Binance.
Which Should You Choose?
| Your Requirement | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Beginner entering the market | Binance (Larger scale and superior tutorials) |
| High-volume spot trading | Binance (Superior market depth) |
| High-volume derivatives trading | Binance (Superior liquidity) |
| Existing Huobi user with assets | Can continue using HTX, but diversification is recommended |
| Prioritizing security funds | Binance ($1 Billion SAFU) |
| Preference for established legacy brands | HTX has a longer operating history |
| Active community engagement | Both offer strong communities; Binance's is larger globally |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is HTX the same as Huobi?
A: Yes. HTX is the new name for Huobi following its acquisition by Justin Sun in 2022. The legal entities maintain continuity, but the management and strategic direction have undergone significant adjustments during the brand restructuring.
Q2: Which is more secure, HTX or Binance?
A: Binance generally demonstrates a higher overall security posture. Its $1 billion SAFU fund is 10 times the size of HTX's, it holds more regulatory licenses, and its incident response mechanisms are highly mature. HTX experienced a major hack in 2023, and while compensation was provided, the incident itself serves as a risk indicator.
Q3: Are HTX's trading fees higher than Binance's?
A: Significantly higher. Standard spot fees are 0.2% on HTX versus 0.1% on Binance. Even after applying platform token discounts, HTX's effective rate remains approximately 80% higher than Binance's. This creates a noticeable cost disparity for long-term traders.
Q4: Are the assets of early Huobi users still on HTX?
A: Yes. All user accounts and assets from Huobi were migrated to the HTX platform in 2022 without alteration. However, some early users migrated their assets to Binance or other exchanges due to concerns following the acquisition.
Q5: Is the HTX derivatives platform recommended?
A: While functional, the market depth and stability of HTX's contract platform are noticeably inferior to Binance's. For derivatives trading, it is recommended to prioritize Binance (for superior depth) or alternatives like Bybit/OKX (for matching engine speed). HTX's contract platform is not considered the optimal choice in the current market.