HTX rotates wallets after UK sanctions, TRM Labs reports

HTX rotates wallets across four blockchains after UK sanctions, making static screening ineffective. TRM Labs urges behavior-based detection. HTX claims the changes are routine security measures.

HTX, formerly known as Huobi Global S.A., has been rapidly rotating its wallet addresses across TRON, Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain, and Solana since UK authorities imposed sanctions in May 2026, according to multiple reports from TRM Labs. The exchange frequently retires and replaces hot wallets and funding addresses, sometimes within hours. This rapid cycling renders static, address-based sanctions screening largely ineffective. TRM Labs recommends behavior-based attribution, which analyzes transaction patterns and fund flows, as a more effective method for identifying new wallets linked to sanctioned entities. The UK sanctions were imposed over alleged facilitation of Russian sanctions evasion, though neither the US nor the EU had designated HTX at the time of reporting. HTX disputes the allegations, stating that frequent wallet changes are standard security practices in the crypto industry and denies any wrongdoing. The ongoing wallet rotation complicates compliance efforts, turning sanctions screening into a dynamic, intelligence-driven process.