The Dark Forest strikes again: Huobi HTX raises the bar with rigorous "self-competition" security standards
TechFlow Selected TechFlow Selected
The Dark Forest strikes again: Huobi HTX raises the bar with rigorous "self-competition" security standards
Huobi HTX's proactive security defense is not the end of danger, but the beginning of security.
Navigating Web3 tides with focused insightsAuthor: TechFlow
In "The Three-Body Problem," civilizations facing external threats have three possible solutions. The first is to voluntarily downgrade themselves and hide within a dark forest, hoping higher-level civilizations will spare them. The second is to develop branch civilizations, distributing existence across multiple nodes so that the destruction of one does not mean total annihilation.
The third approach involves bravely confronting danger, achieving technological explosion, rapidly advancing to a higher civilization level in a short time, potentially even defeating adversaries and ensuring survival.
Luo Ji did this; Hassan Sunny has done the same.
Hassan Sunny, Singapore’s 40-year-old goalkeeper, embodies an eternally youthful fighting spirit despite his age. His heroic saves have repeatedly helped China's national football team qualify. On June 14, Sun Yuchen, member of HTX Global Advisory Council, officially announced the signing of Hassan as HTX’s Chief Security Officer and brand ambassador. Just like a phoenix rising from the ashes, HTX continues climbing in the world of cryptocurrency.
Within the dense jungle of cryptocurrency, people once believed on-chain environments were the most dangerous no-go zones. However, recent security incidents at exchanges have made it clear: there is no absolutely safe comfort zone in crypto. HTX has decided to take proactive measures—eliminating threats before they emerge and pioneering active security.
The crypto world is full of dangers—security comes first for exchanges
With the bull market beginning at the end of 2023, malicious attackers have been actively seeking new targets.
According to data from relevant security agencies, between January 2012 and February 2024, exchanges suffered 148 breaches, with total losses exceeding $11 billion. Recent hacks continue to occur frequently—the cycle never ends.
These thefts don’t just target exchange-owned assets—they often specifically attack “whales,” sometimes wiping out their entire net worth. Victims are left helpless, lamenting to the sky with no recourse.
High standards for asset security emerge through intense competition
Regarding exchange security, since its 2023 rebranding, HTX has implemented a strategic plan centered on "global expansion, ecosystem prosperity, wealth effect, and secure compliance," with "global deployment" as its core, aiming to reshape itself globally and earn worldwide user trust.
Remaining vigilant even in safety, HTX consistently emphasizes protection—especially as hacking techniques evolve into the AI era, where any technical defense may eventually be breached.
To date, HTX has accumulated over 46 million registered users, including more than 5 million new users in 2023 alone. Total visits across both web and mobile platforms reached nearly 54.3 billion, with annual trading volume approaching $1.3 trillion in 2023.
Faced with such massive user scale and capital volume, both users and hackers are drawn in—users attracted by liquidity and trading volume, hackers searching for exploitable opportunities. For example, on January 19, 2024, HTX suffered a DDoS attack but successfully weathered it thanks to its security team’s swift response.
Exchanges face special “attention” due to their large asset holdings, yet this pressure also drives industry progress. Take Proof-of-Reserves (PoR), which combines Merkle Trees and independent audits—a crucial standard allowing anyone to verify an exchange’s true security status.
On fund transparency, HTX has maintained a reserve ratio above 100%, ensuring users can deposit and withdraw assets securely and fully at any time.
Since late 2022, HTX has updated its reserve status monthly on the first day. According to the latest report, HTX’s reserve ratio exceeds 100%. Across key assets like USDT, BTC, ETH, HTX, and TRX, wallet holdings surpass user balances, demonstrating full compensation capability.
Beyond monthly reserve disclosures, HTX provides open-source verification via Merkle Trees, wallet ownership proofs, and on-chain asset validation.
A Merkle Tree is a computer data structure used to verify large datasets without exposing specific contents. HTX regularly publishes audit results on the first of each month.
Any user can follow provided guidelines to validate data independently, eliminating possibilities of fraud. By integrating Merkle Trees, HTX achieves efficient, transparent, and secure management of user assets, protecting funds to the highest standards.
In terms of asset scale, HTX currently ranks in the top 10, holding $865 million in assets primarily composed of BTC, ETH, and USDT—accounting for 98.8%—emphasizing mainstream secure coins to build a leading global exchange.
Put simply, even during major security crises, HTX maintains 100% defensive capacity. For instance, following a hacker incident in September 2023, HTX offered a white-hat bounty of 250 ETH, successfully recovering most stolen assets.
Proactively preparing, HTX has partnered with multiple cybersecurity firms to enhance platform security through shared expertise. These specialized companies continuously monitor HTX’s defenses, ideally identifying vulnerabilities before attacks occur—acting like ever-vigilant white blood cells. HTX has entered the era of proactive security.
Security also requires user cooperation.
Users must remain cautious—not because HTX shirks responsibility, but because mutual collaboration ensures zero opportunities for hackers. After past incidents, some users joked their small holdings wouldn't attract hackers.
In reality, most breaches target individual retail investors. While individual gains may be small, attack costs are low and success rates high. Over time, cumulative profits could exceed those from targeting single whales. Additionally, retail victims often lack public voice, reducing post-attack reputational pressure on hackers.
Therefore, every user must cultivate strong security awareness. Never assume safety isn't your concern. A holistic view of secure trading is essential—always keep Web3 safety top of mind.
With user cooperation, HTX outlines key security practices:
-
Before using the HTX mobile app, ensure device security—avoid installing untrusted third-party apps. Always download the HTX app from official app stores or verified channels.
-
When logging into HTX on PC, ensure system security—install necessary antivirus software, avoid untrusted third-party applications, and refrain from adding suspicious browser extensions.
User awareness first, HTX protection always close behind. Exchange security has naturally advanced into the era of proactive defense. With dual-platform protection, HTX safeguards every step—covering all aspects and layers of user interaction.
Conclusion
Facing the dark forest of the crypto universe, HTX chooses not passive surrender, but active confrontation. Whether facing advanced civilizations or chaotic external forces, real dangers exist—but within them lies our own historical coordinates.
Only through continuous exploration along the boundary between safety and danger can we find the right balance between user convenience and robust security. HTX’s proactive security model is not the end of danger—it is the beginning of true safety.
Join TechFlow official community to stay tuned
Telegram:https://t.me/TechFlowDaily
X (Twitter):https://x.com/TechFlowPost
X (Twitter) EN:https://x.com/BlockFlow_News
深潮TechFlow
