Why can't I send or receive assets to or from HTX?
On May 26, 2026, the UK Government designated Huobi Global S.A., the entity operating the HTX exchange, under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. This is a legal designation, not a decision made by Uphold Europe Limited, and it applies to every UK business, not just us. This page explains what the designation means for your account and why we are required to act as we have.
What has actually changed?
Once HTX was added to the UK Sanctions List, it became a criminal offence for any UK person or UK-regulated firm, including Uphold Europe Limited, to process a transaction to, from, or via HTX, or to make funds or economic resources available to it, directly or indirectly. We have no discretion here. The obligation applies automatically from the date of designation and does not depend on the size of the transaction or your intent.
Is this specific to Uphold, or does it apply everywhere?
It applies to every UK-regulated financial firm, bank, and payment provider. If you try to move funds to HTX through another UK institution, you will hit the same restriction. This is a UK Government sanctions measure administered by the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), not an Uphold policy.
Can I still access the rest of my Uphold account normally?
Yes. This restriction is specific to transactions involving HTX. Your ability to hold, trade, and withdraw to non-sanctioned destinations is unaffected. If any part of your balance is found to be connected to a designated person, that specific balance may need to be frozen separately, and we will contact you directly if that applies to you.
I have a pending transfer to or from HTX. What happens to it?
We are required to stop it. Depending on where the transaction sat in our process, funds will either be returned to their source or held pending our compliance review. We will contact you directly about any transaction of yours that is affected rather than leaving you to guess.
Can Uphold make an exception for me?
No. There is no commercial exception available to us. The only routes around a sanctions restriction are a general exception written into the legislation itself, which does not apply to routine client transfers, or a specific licence granted by OFSI to a party affected by the freeze. We cannot apply for a licence on your behalf, and we cannot process your transaction while an application is pending.
How long will this restriction be in place?
For as long as HTX remains on the UK Sanctions List. Designations are reviewed periodically by the UK Government, and we will update our controls immediately if that status changes. We do not have visibility into the timing of any future review, so we are not able to give you a date.
Why can't you tell me more about how this was identified or investigated?
Sanctions and anti-money laundering law restricts what firms can disclose about the specific handling of a case, including to the client involved. This is a legal constraint on us, not a reflection of anything about you personally. We can confirm the fact of the restriction and its general basis, which is what this FAQ sets out.
What should I do next?
Do not attempt to route a transaction to HTX through another exchange or wallet on our platform.
If you believe you have funds held on HTX itself, that is a matter between you and HTX, and you may wish to seek independent legal advice.
If you think this restriction has been applied to your account in error, contact our support team and we will review it.
Where can I read the underlying legal basis for this?
The UK Sanctions List entry for Huobi Global S.A. (reference RUS3619) is published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and is publicly searchable on GOV.UK. OFSI's financial sanctions guidance explains the obligations on regulated firms in more detail.