HTX Responds to Allegations of Involvement in Kraken Transfers

HTX Denies Involvement in Alleged Kraken-Linked Transfers

On August 20, 2026, HTX publicly denied any involvement in a series of disputed cryptocurrency microtransfers, which some users claimed originated from addresses linked to the exchange. These allegations have fueled compliance concerns at Kraken and other exchanges regarding the handling of transferred funds.

HTX’s Internal Review Findings

HTX conducted an internal review and announced that it found no evidence indicating that their official accounts were behind the disputed small cryptocurrency transfers. In response to user claims, the exchange clarified that it did not authorize any transfers which may have triggered compliance restrictions.

Compliance Restrictions at Kraken

Kraken responded to the controversy by stating that they are acting under British sanctions, which necessitate restrictions on funds transferred into customer accounts from designated entities, including Huobi Global, which is linked to HTX through ownership regulations. Kraken did not confirm that the disputed microtransfers directly caused any specific account restrictions.

Disputed Amounts and Evidence

HTX representatives claimed that frozen funds at Kraken included up to $4.2 million. However, they have not provided the necessary accounts, transaction hashes, or any communications from Kraken to substantiate this figure. Furthermore, internal checks suggested that some affected users might have initiated transfers independently while testing Kraken’s compliance measures.

Address Poisoning Allegations

The investigation began after users reported unsolicited USDT transfers from addresses labeled as HTX-related. Some industry commentators labeled these actions as potential “address poisoning,” a tactic where small amounts are sent from similar-looking addresses to manipulate compliance systems at other platforms. HTX has maintained that their review found no indications of a coordinated effort to engage in such actions.

Next Steps and Future Clarifications

HTX plans to publish a final report that includes verified sending addresses and transaction hashes. Meanwhile, Kraken has indicated that they are examining the implications of unsolicited transfers and have asked affected customers to provide documentation to recover access to their funds. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the alleged poisoning campaign and the $4.2 million claim, both HTX and Kraken agree that compliance measures related to U.K. sanctions are currently in effect.