The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has taken HTX, a cryptocurrency exchange, to the High Court.
The authority states that HTX promoted crypto services to people in Britain without following UK advertising rules.
The FCA filed the case in October 2025 in the Chancery Division. Several individuals connected to HTX are also included in the action.
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In a February 10 update, the FCA said it received approval to serve the case outside the UK and through alternative methods. HTX, previously known as Huobi Global, is registered in Panama, so the regulator needed this permission.
The FCA said companies that offer crypto products to UK users must follow rules that prevent misleading or unfair marketing. The authority also noted that promoting crypto assets on websites or social platforms without complying with these rules constitutes a criminal offense.
The regulator explained that it had issued earlier warnings to HTX. The exchange did not change its approach after those warnings. It continued to publish promotions that failed to meet the required standards.
These promotions appeared on HTX’s website and on TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Steve Smart, joint executive director for enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said the rules aim to support a stable crypto market in the UK and help consumers make informed choices.
He stated that HTX’s conduct differs from that of firms seeking to comply with the regime.
Meanwhile, Ripple received approval from the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for its local subsidiary, Ripple Markets UK, to act as an Electronic Money Institution and to register under the Money Laundering Regulations. What did the company say? Read the full story.
