How to sign up on HTX: account, KYC and futures
HTX (formerly Huobi) takes an email or phone number, a verification code and a password. Before trading futures you must verify your identity and enable futures. This guide follows HTX's help center and spells out where HTX is not available.
Before you start
- An email address or phone number. Each can register only one account.
- A valid ID of your own (national ID, passport or driver's licence); the top level adds a face check.
- Check your country first. HTX's terms exclude mainland China, Hong Kong, the US, the UK, Singapore, all EU countries, Russia and others, and bar derivatives in Taiwan, New Zealand, Israel and a few more (see the latest user agreement). A "region restricted" message means exactly this.
Step 1: open the sign-up page
Open the HTX sign-up page (Register at the top right, or tap the profile icon then Register in the app). Our button applies the referral code automatically; if it doesn't show, type it in.
Trade on HTX Referral code kv9vc223
Step 2: enter email or phone, password and referral code
Enter your email or phone number.
Expand Referral Code (Optional) and enter kv9vc223. Do it now: HTX does not say a code can be added later.
Tap Next or Get code and solve the puzzle check.
Step 3: enter the verification code
Enter the 6-digit code, set a password and you're registered.
No code? Don't keep tapping Get code; check SMS blocking and your phone credit; for email check spam and whitelist HTX's sender.
Step 4: verify your identity
HTX has three verification levels, and futures require verification. Higher levels raise deposit, withdrawal and purchase limits.
| Level | What you need | What it unlocks |
|---|---|---|
| L1 | Nationality, ID number, name, date of birth | Enables deposits and withdrawals |
| L2 | Photo of passport, ID or driver's licence | Higher limits |
| L3 | Face recognition | Highest limits |
Step 5: secure your account
In Security settings turn on Google Authenticator, then set an anti-phishing code (4–20 characters, shown in real HTX emails), a passkey and the withdrawal whitelist. After a password reset withdrawals are blocked for 24 hours, and changing 2FA also triggers a 24-hour withdrawal limit.
Step 6: deposit USDT
USDT perpetuals use USDT as margin. The usual way in is an on-chain transfer from another exchange or wallet: on HTX tap Deposit, choose USDT and a network (such as TRC20, ERC20 or BEP20), copy the address, then send from the other side on the same network. A wrong network can mean lost funds, so try a small amount first.
Step 7: open futures and place a first order
- The first time you open futures HTX asks you to enable futures trading: you need a verified account and must accept the futures service agreement.
- Under Assets → Transfer move USDT from Spot to the USDT-M account (the default direction); cross and isolated share this account.
- Pick a pair such as BTC-USDT perpetual, choose cross or isolated and set leverage. Beginners usually pick isolated and low leverage.
- Choose limit or market, enter the size and tap Buy/Long or Sell/Short. Check the funding rate and next settlement first.
Work out the cost first. At HTX's standard rates, opening and closing a 10,000 USDT position with market orders costs about 12.0 USDT in fees (0.060% taker × 2), or 4.0 USDT with limit orders that rest on the book. Holding also pays or receives funding at every settlement: BTC is at +0.0100% now, so a 10,000 USDT long pays about 1.00 USDT this period. The holding cost calculator shows where a position is cheapest to hold.
The higher the leverage, the smaller the move that liquidates you. Beginners usually start at 2–5x with isolated margin and a stop-loss.
HTX vs other exchanges: fees and funding
| Exchange | Maker | Taker | BTC funding | ETH funding | Sign-up guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Binance | 0.020% | 0.050% | +0.0036% | +0.0013% | Guide |
 OKX | 0.020% | 0.050% | +0.0100% | +0.0027% | Guide |
 Bybit | 0.020% | 0.055% | +0.0082% | +0.0018% | Guide |
 Bitget | 0.020% | 0.060% | +0.0080% | +0.0026% | Guide |
 Gate | 0.020% | 0.050% | +0.0076% | +0.0057% | Guide |
 HTX | 0.020% | 0.060% | +0.0100% | +0.0100% | This page |
Fees are each exchange's standard USDT perpetual rates (checked against official pages on 2026-10-09). Funding updates every 2 minutes; the superscript is the settlement interval (none means 8h). See the full comparison for every coin.
FAQ
Can I sign up for HTX from mainland China?
No. HTX's user agreement lists mainland China as unsupported, along with Hong Kong, the US, the UK, Singapore, EU countries and others.
Can I add an HTX referral code later?
HTX does not say so. Enter it at sign-up; our button applies it automatically, and the code is kv9vc223.
How many HTX accounts can one phone number open?
One. Each phone number or email can register a single account.
What are HTX futures fees?
Standard users pay 0.02% maker and 0.06% taker on USDT-M perpetuals; the My Fee Rate page in your account is final. Opening and closing 10,000 USDT with market orders costs about 12 USDT.
I didn't get the HTX verification code.
Don't keep tapping Get code; check SMS blocking and phone credit; for email check spam and whitelist HTX's sender.
Why can't I withdraw after resetting my password?
HTX blocks withdrawals for 24 hours after a password reset, and for 24 hours after changing Google Authenticator.
Can I trade HTX futures from Taiwan?
No. The user agreement bars derivatives trading in Taiwan, New Zealand, Israel and several other places.
Checked against HTX's official help center on 2026-10-22. Buttons and promotions change; the sign-up page is the final word. Make sure HTX is available and legal where you live, and never use someone else's ID or a false country of residence. Futures trading is high risk and you can lose all of your margin. Sources: How to create an HTX account, Identity verification, User agreement, FAQ, Transfers