Htx vs Altcoin Trader: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Htx and Altcoin Trader This side-by-side comparison reveals total cost (fees + spreads), security & licenses, coins/derivatives, deposits/withdrawals, and app quality. In 2 minutes you’ll see who wins for beginners, active traders, and long-term holders. Clear pros/cons, a quick verdict, and safe links to get started.

Last updated on August 16, 2025

Htx

Altcoin Trader

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Available Countries

United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Canada

United Kingdom

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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Htx is ideal if:

A wide trading toolkit for all levels – HTX serves both beginner and advanced users with spot, margin, futures, copy-trading, automated bots, and staking features, offering real flexibility for growth.
Consistently deep liquidity and broad token access – With over 700 cryptocurrencies and hundreds of trading pairs—including fiat support and various passive income options—it’s great if you want choice and market depth.
Security and transparency at its core – Offering live cold storage, proof-of-reserve commitments, 2FA, withdrawal controls, and regulatory alignment across key regions ensures a secure trading environment you can trust.

Altcoin Trader is ideal if:

Ideal for newcomers seeking simplicity: Its intuitive interface and straightforward trading make onboarding smooth and stress‑free.
Perfect if you want seamless ZAR access: Supports direct South African Rand deposits and withdrawals tied to local banking systems.
Great for those who value passive earnings: Offers an interest‑bearing feature that lets you earn on crypto holdings without lock‑ins.

Htx isn’t ideal if:

Limited regional access – HTX is unavailable in key markets like the United States, Canada, UK, China, and others, restricting access for traders in many major territories.
Not beginner-friendly – The platform’s advanced interface and rich feature set can overwhelm newcomers who prefer a more intuitive, streamlined onboarding experience.
Customer support delays – Some users report slow response times and limited fiat withdrawal options, which can impact trading during urgent situations.

Altcoin Trader isn’t ideal if:

Not for multi-fiats or passive earners: Only accepts South African Rand and lacks earning tools like staking or interest accounts.
Not for advanced traders: Platform design is basic—missing advanced order types, robust charting, or professional trading tools.
Not optimal for large-volume traders: Lower liquidity and trading volume compared to big exchanges may affect execution of bigger trades.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

HTX uses a tiered “Prime” structure where both maker and taker fees start around 0.20 % at the entry tier and progressively fall to near zero (maker) and a few hundredths of a percent (taker) at the top tiers; holding the native HT token offers an extra discount on spot taker fees via applied HT deduction.

AltCoinTrader applies a flat fee of 0.10% for both maker and taker spot trades, regardless of your trading volume; there are no volume-based tiers or discounts for using any native token.

Futures/Derivatives

Futures contracts (USDT- or coin-margined) begin with maker fees around 0.02 % and takers around 0.05–0.06 %, improving with higher-tier status—even offering negative maker fees at top levels—while funding isn’t a direct HTX charge but rather settled among traders according to position and the prevailing funding rate.

The platform does not offer any futures or derivatives trading—so there are no associated maker/taker fees or funding costs to consider.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

HTX reports tight spreads on major pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT; spreads tend to remain narrow thanks to deep liquidity, though exact percentages aren’t published—indicative of competitive conditions.

AltCoinTrader does not publicly disclose average spreads for these pairs; given its focus on ZAR-based markets, spreads may vary, and the platform does not advertise this metric prominently.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Fiat can be deposited or withdrawn via common methods (like bank transfers or cards) with fees and processing times varying by method and region; details are available in the platform’s fiat interface, but HTX tends to streamline these operations for ease of use.

You can deposit and withdraw South African Rand via EFT, bank transfer, Capitec Pay, and similar local methods—with deposit fees around 0.5% (capped at R95), and withdrawal fees set at 0.5% plus a fixed R16 (also capped at R95); deposits are typically credited within one to three days, depending on your bank.

On-chain Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals on HTX incur network (mining) fees specific to each blockchain (e.g. BTC, ETH, TRX), dynamically reflecting network conditions rather than fixed, flat charges.

Withdrawal fees for cryptocurrencies are network-based and vary by coin—e.g., a BTC withdrawal costs approximately 0.00057 BTC—indicating a fixed fee per network rather than dynamic gas-based pricing.

Hidden Costs

Beyond trading and network fees, there may be supplemental costs such as currency conversion margins when using non-supported fiat, possible inactivity penalties, or optional express–KYC surcharges, depending on region or promotion—users should review account settings for those.

Although there are no explicit inactivity or express KYC fees mentioned, non-ZAR conversions may involve indirect conversion costs, and fee transparency for different services (like instant processing) isn’t fully clear—so always check within your account before proceeding.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

If you purchase €500 worth of BTC, your total outlay would include a spot taker fee (e.g. ~0.20 %), plus the implied buy-side spread, and on-chain withdrawal would add the relevant network fee—so the net BTC received would reflect those combined, though precise numbers depend on market and network conditions at execution.

Suppose you purchase the equivalent of €500 in BTC via the market; you’d pay roughly 0.10% in trading fee plus a spread embedded in the quote, and if withdrawing immediately you’d incur the fixed BTC withdrawal fee—altogether reflecting trading, conversion, and withdrawal without outlining exact amounts to keep it evergreen.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

HTX lists over 700 digital assets (some sources suggest over 1,000, though officially it’s 700+) and supports hundreds of trading pairs; the top 20 by volume typically include heavily traded pairs like BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT, XRP/USDT, and other high-liquidity altcoin-USDT combinations, reflecting mainstream market interest.

AltCoinTrader supports approximately 37 unique cryptocurrencies across around 48 trading pairs, with the top 20 pairs by volume dominated by ZAR-based markets—including notable pairs like XRP/ZAR, BTC/ZAR, USDT/ZAR, and ETH/ZAR.

Product Range

HTX delivers a robust suite

AltCoinTrader focuses on basic spot trading and includes a passive income product called “Easy Save,” but it does not offer margin or derivatives, crypto ETFs, lending, copy trading, grid bots, or automated DCA tools.

Liquidity

HTX maintains high liquidity with daily volumes in the multi-billion-dollar range (for example, around $5.4 billion in one snapshot), offering strong order-book depth in BTC and ETH pairs—meaning large trades face minimal slippage—though depth metrics fluctuate with market behavior.

Liquidity is modest, with 24-hour trading volumes in the low-to-mid million-dollar range; although exact order book depth isn’t publicly shown, it’s likely thinner than on major global exchanges, especially for BTC and ETH markets.

Tools

Traders can access advanced tools such as limit orders, stop-limit, OCO orders, along with real-time alerts, sophisticated charting (including TradingView-style analysis), and full API/WebSocket support—ideal for both hands-on and automated strategies.

The platform provides market and limit orders, slightly more advanced charting via TradingView Basic, and API access; however, features such as stop or OCO orders, price alerts, WebSocket data, or advanced charting tools are notably limited or absent.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Derivatives, such as futures and options, are not available in certain jurisdictions—examples include the UK (retail users), Spain, Taiwan, China, and others—so availability varies significantly by country and regulation.

Being South African-based, AltCoinTrader’s features are tailored mainly to ZAR-speaking regions, with no support for derivatives or advanced instruments—there are no explicit regional blackouts, but advanced products simply aren’t offered anywhere.

Innovation

HTX embraces innovation with mechanisms like Launchpool (dual rewards for staking HTX tokens) and both flexible and fixed-term staking options, enabling creative earning paths for users engaging with new tokens or tapping liquidity.

AltCoinTrader doesn’t support token launch mechanisms or pools, but it does offer an innovative passive yield feature via Easy Save, which allows flexible, interest-like returns on idle crypto without lock-ins—offering a rare, flexible-earn option among regional exchanges.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

HTX originated in China in 2013 but is now legally based in the Republic of Seychelles, with additional offices or operations in locations like Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, and previously the U.S., reflecting its international setup reshaped by evolving regulatory environments.

AltCoinTrader (Pty) Ltd, founded around 2015 and headquartered in South Africa, operates under South African law with a visible company registration—making it a locally regulated and established crypto service provider.

Licenses/Registration

HTX holds multiple regulatory approvals including a Virtual Asset Service Provider registration in Lithuania, a DLT license in Gibraltar, a VARA license in Dubai, a SIBA investment business license in the BVI, AUSTRAC registration in Australia, and permission for payment and remittance services in parts of South America—demonstrating ongoing efforts toward regional legal compliance.

AltCoinTrader is officially licensed by the South African Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) as a Category I/II Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP), and also registered as a Financial Service Provider (FSP), reflecting compliance with local and FATF-aligned regulatory standards.

Custody

HTX uses its own custody infrastructure and has implemented a Merkle-Tree–based Proof of Reserves system that publicly verifies 1

AltCoinTrader manages its own custody of user assets, employs a statutory audit confirming that client reserves exceed liabilities, and holds a major portion of assets in cold storage—though it doesn’t publicly provide a full-proof of reserves report.

Insurance & Protection Funds

HTX maintains a Security Reserve Mechanism that sets aside a substantial BTC reserve—reportedly around 20,000 BTC—to help compensate users in the unlikely case of a breach, providing an added layer of protection against potential losses.

There is no publicly detailed insurance policy or external protection fund advertised—such coverage is either not offered or not transparently disclosed on the platform.

Incident History

While HTX hasn’t had major publicized hacks recently, its history includes structural changes like being removed from the Seychelles crypto exchange register and a prior license revocation in Thailand—illustrating some regulatory and administrative challenges in its past.

There are no known reports of major hacks or regulatory fines, although a small number of users have complained about account issues or fund access delays on review platforms—no confirmed systemic security breaches.

Risk Controls

HTX emphasizes robust account security through features like two-factor authentication (2FA), address whitelisting, anti-phishing tools, structured sub-accounts, and granular API permissions—allowing fine-tuned control and protecting users from unauthorized access.

The platform enforces standard risk controls like two-factor authentication (2FA) and OTP-based withdrawal verification; more advanced tools such as whitelisting addresses, sub-account management, anti-phishing measures, or granular API permissions are not prominently featured.

Transparency

HTX publishes regular (monthly) Proof of Reserves reports and claims that users can verify their own assets via Merkle-root tools; however, it does not appear to offer public wallet addresses, comprehensive monthly financial statements, or formal service-level guarantees like an SLA.

AltCoinTrader does not appear to publish monthly financial or transparency reports, does not offer publicly auditable wallet addresses, nor sets formal SLAs—though it does voluntarily participate in regulatory audits and maintains compliance processes under financial law.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

HTX accepts fiat deposits via bank transfers (e.g., SEPA), cards (Visa/MasterCard), e-wallets (Advcash), PIX, UPI, etc., with minimum amounts generally starting around €10 or equivalent depending on currency, and processing times ranging from a few minutes to a business day, depending on method and region.

AltCoinTrader accepts fiat deposits via local bank transfers and Ozow instant EFT, requiring a minimum of around R100 (approx. $6), with no stated maximum; processing usually happens within a few hours to one business day, depending on method and bank operations.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

HTX offers account usage without KYC but limits certain actions like withdrawals; completing basic and advanced KYC quickly unlocks substantially higher daily limits (even up to multiple BTC), with level-up requiring ID documents and, for higher tiers, a live face check or investment capability assessment.

AltCoinTrader uses multi-tiered verification

Withdrawals

limits, timing & networks

Crypto withdrawals depend on the chosen network (ERC-20, TRC-20, etc.) and follow standard network protocols; fiat ZAR withdrawals offer a “near-instant” service (R250K max outside banking hours; R5M during) taking 5–15 minutes to process but up to 24 hours to reflect, and must be sent to a personal bank account in your name.

Customer Support

HTX provides customer assistance via 24/7 live chat, email support, and an extensive FAQ/knowledge base; response times vary but live chat ensures faster handling while the help center offers self-serve guidance across common topics. (No specific data found; this is based on typical platform structure.)

Support is available via email, tickets, and phone during South African business hours (typically weekdays, 9

Languages & Localization

The platform is primarily in English but also supports local language interfaces depending on region; fiat amounts and fees display in currency local to the user (e.g., €/USD), with regulatory prompts and guidance tailored to supported jurisdictions. (Platform behavior inferred from multilingual support practices.)

The platform is presented in English, displays fees and balances in ZAR, and is fully oriented toward South African regulatory standards, offering smooth localization for users in that region while showing limited adaptability for others.

App Quality & Stability

HTX’s mobile app is regularly updated and generally delivers stable performance. Although specific crash-rate metrics aren’t disclosed publicly, user reviews suggest it remains reliable, with frequent updates ensuring bug fixes and feature enhancements.

AltCoinTrader’s mobile app is generally stable and feature-rich in terms of basic trading, earning a middling performance score; while it supports TradingView charts, APIs, and indicators, there’s no public data on crash rates—user feedback indicates reliable stability but limited advanced features.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

HTX offers a dual-mode interface—“Lite” for faster, simplified navigation ideal for newcomers, and “Pro” for advanced users who need comprehensive trading dashboards and customization; this tiered approach smooths the learning curve by letting traders start simply and progressively explore deeper functionality.

AltCoinTrader features a clean, beginner-friendly interface with a shallow learning curve and no separate Lite or Pro modes—making it simple and consistent for users of all levels.

Performance

Recent platform updates report a 20% boost in transaction efficiency thanks to UI refinement, reducing delays during order execution; while there’s no widespread evidence of system outages during volatility spikes, we should note that KYC verification can experience delays during market surges, as increased registrations lengthen processing queues.

The exchange typically handles order submissions quickly and remains solid even during market swings, though occasional slowdowns or verification delays may occur during surges of activity or peak trading periods.

Education

HTX maintains a Learn & Earn educational track with interactive lessons and quizzes (previously tied to CrossFi projects), though there’s no dedicated demo trading simulator; while core materials are in English, there’s growing on-platform educational content, but supports for Spanish learners appear limited at this time.

While the platform offers helpful webinars, detailed FAQs, and guided support, it lacks a built-in demo or simulator and currently doesn’t provide structured educational content in Spanish.

Community

HTX fosters an active presence across official Telegram channels (English, Portuguese, Chinese), and maintains a Discord server for futures traders, encouraging peer support and platform discussions; referral incentives further engage users, though traditional web‐forum communities seem less prominent.

AltCoinTrader does not host public forums or Discord/Telegram channels, but it does run a referral program alongside its support-driven community engagement through its helpdesk and email support.

Integrations

The platform supports native TradingView-style charts and full API/WebSocket connectivity, enabling integration with external trading bots and strategies; although there’s no direct accounting or tax tool within HTX, the open integration ecosystem lets users adapt third-party portfolio trackers for their record-keeping.

The platform includes basic charting with TradingView Lite integration, but it doesn’t yet support external trading bots, tax tools, or accounting package integrations.

Who Each One Is Best For

HTX is highly suitable for intermediate to advanced crypto enthusiasts—those who appreciate interface flexibility, deep liquidity, and integration options—while casual or non-English speakers may find it less approachable, and Spanish-speaking beginners may need external educational support.

AltCoinTrader is ideal for South African beginners or casual traders seeking secure, straightforward ZAR-based buying and basic earning, but less suitable for advanced traders craving sophisticated tools or broader language and automation support.