On October 29, 2026, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority announced a settlement with Huobi Global S.A. over HTX’s crypto promotions, confirming that the exchange has exited the UK. Deposits and new UK registrations have stopped. Existing users with residual assets must contact support to request a conditional, one-time 48-hour withdrawal window.
HTX sets that window under its own withdrawal arrangements. The FCA announcement does not start a universal deadline for users to remove their funds. The exchange’s notice says eligible individuals must request access and pass its checks before personally withdrawing their remaining assets.
The FCA commenced proceedings on October 21, 2025 and publicly announced them on February 10, 2026. According to the regulator, HTX repeatedly failed to engage before the case began, then took steps to leave the UK after proceedings started. Under the settlement, the FCA says HTX will not target, solicit or actively seek to engage UK consumers.
Residual assets require a support request
HTX’s October 16 service notice says it does not provide services to UK residents. Users cannot complete account registration or identity verification from a UK IP address. Existing accounts identified as UK accounts remain restricted. HTX has disabled deposits, trading and transactions across its products and services for those accounts.
The notice directs eligible individual users with residual balances to customer support. Approval depends on the applicable Personal Remittances General Licence’s conditions and limits. Users must also pass HTX’s identity, ownership, sanctions, anti-money-laundering, fraud and account-security controls. An account with assets still on the exchange must meet those requirements to qualify for the withdrawal window.
An approved user must personally withdraw all remaining assets during the 48-hour period. HTX allows the transactions needed to withdraw different asset types, but each remains subject to destination-wallet, blockchain and security controls. The exchange explicitly says it will not transfer assets on the user’s behalf. Approval permits withdrawal under those conditions; trading remains disabled.
HTX closes the account after full withdrawal. Affected users must email htxsupport@htx-inc.com from the address registered to their account and provide a personal-use confirmation. The notice also places responsibility for any applicable reporting obligations on users and recommends independent legal advice where appropriate. It gives no common calendar cutoff for all remaining UK balances.
The remittances licence has separate conditions
The withdrawal notice refers to a sanctions licence with terms separate from HTX’s own controls. The Treasury’s Personal Remittances General Licence permits specified personal-use payments involving designated credit or financial institutions, subject to its terms. HTX makes its withdrawal arrangement conditional on that licence. Its support notice gives no blanket authorization covering every account or transfer.
The licence sets a £55,000 cumulative limit for permitted payments in respect of an individual over the period from its issue to expiry. The limit applies across that period, with no fresh allowance for each withdrawal transaction or asset type. Payments relating to goods or services for commercial purposes are excluded. HTX also requires users to confirm that their withdrawal is for personal use.
The Treasury’s publication notice records the increase from £50,000 to £55,000 and the extension of expiry to February 23, 2028. It also clarifies that the specified UK or non-UK bank-account destination requirement applies to permissions involving an entity. These provisions give no unconditional assurance that HTX can process a particular wallet withdrawal under its arrangements.
An amendment dated May 26, 2026 added a reporting requirement for anyone using cryptoassets to make or receive payments under the licence. They must report to HM Treasury within 14 days of the end of the calendar month in which those payments were made or received. That reporting timetable runs separately from HTX’s 48-hour withdrawal window.
The report must include amounts paid or received, the payment route with account or wallet details, and the transaction dates, with supporting evidence. The individual must also confirm personal use in accordance with the licence. HTX’s notice says users are responsible for determining and complying with obligations that apply to them. That reporting duty remains with the user after support approves a withdrawal.
What the court undertaking binds
The Tomlin order dated October 27, 2026, made by Deputy Master Holden in claim FS-2025-000015, records a confidential settlement agreement dated October 16. Huobi Global, the Panama-incorporated first defendant, gives undertakings to the court until October 21, 2031.
The undertaking prohibits Huobi Global from knowingly communicating, or causing the communication of, financial promotions that contravene section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. It covers direct and indirect conduct, including through officers, servants or agents. Both the knowledge qualifier and the reference to unlawful promotions form part of the published restriction.
The specified channels extend beyond the existing HTX website to similar websites promulgated by the exchange operator, software applications and social platforms. The order names X, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, TikTok, YouTube, Discord, Medium and LinkedIn among those channels. A promotion moved from the website to an app or social account remains within the undertaking’s stated scope.
The order stays further proceedings on the settlement terms except for enforcement. The FCA and Huobi Global can apply to the court to enforce the agreement without bringing a new claim. The order makes no order as to costs. The FCA says the settlement constitutes no admission of liability or wrongdoing by Huobi Global or any other person or entity.
The settlement agreement itself remains confidential. HTX’s public notice gives no processing time for support requests and does not explain the treatment of residual assets when a user cannot meet the licence conditions or complete the approved withdrawal window.
