Bybit Froze Accounts Linked to HTX: Why It Happened and How to Get Your Funds Back
The UK sanctioned HTX, and Bybit now screens every transfer with an HTX trail. If your account got caught in the sweep, here is what is actually happening, and what to do.
- On 27 May 2026 the UK sanctioned HTX, Justin Sun's exchange, the first crypto platform designated under its Russia sanctions framework.
- Bybit, OKX and Bitget now screen transfers linked to HTX. Accounts that received funds with an HTX trail, even a single cent, are being frozen for review.
- This is a compliance hold driven by the sanctions, not an accusation against you, and the holds are being lifted.
- Reviews are running about 30 days before access and funds return. Bybit has published no official timeline, so treat any exact date with caution.
If Bybit suddenly locked your account or held a withdrawal after your money touched HTX, you are not being singled out, and your funds are not gone. On 27 May 2026 the UK sanctioned HTX, and Bybit now screens any transfer connected to it. Accounts that received funds with an HTX trail got caught in that sweep. It is a compliance hold triggered by the sanctions, not an accusation against you, and the holds are clearing.
Why your Bybit account got frozen
You did nothing wrong, and you did not need to use HTX yourself to get caught. Bybit's sanctions screening looks at where a deposit has been, not just who sent it to you. If any coin in that history passed through an HTX-linked address, the screening can flag your account, even if the amount was a single cent and you never opened an HTX account. That is why so many accounts went down at once: the trigger is the trail of the funds, not your behaviour.
What the UK sanctions on HTX actually mean
HTX became the first crypto exchange designated under the UK's Russia sanctions framework. On 27 May 2026 the UK sanctioned HTX, the exchange owned and advised by Justin Sun and formerly known as Huobi, accusing it of routing more than 1.5 billion dollars toward the Russian financial sector. Once a platform is sanctioned, every regulated exchange has to screen funds linked to it. Within hours, Bybit, OKX and Bitget all tightened transfer checks on HTX-connected activity.
How long until your account and money come back
The holds are temporary, and the reviews are running about 30 days before access is restored. Bybit has published no official timeline, so be careful with anyone promising an exact date. What we are seeing, from user reports and from our own Bybit contact, is that sanctions-related reviews clear in around 30 days, after which the account and the funds are released. The wait exists because each flagged account is checked against the sanctions designation by hand, and that queue is long right now.
What Bybit officially says
Bybit's public guidance is to avoid HTX-linked addresses and to expect extra compliance checks. In its official notice, Bybit confirmed the screening and pointed affected users to its support team. Its public posts focus on preventing new flagged transfers, not on the accounts already under review, which is why support replies often read as generic. That is the process working slowly, not your case being ignored.
“In light of the latest regulatory actions concerning HTX, transfers to or from HTX-linked addresses may trigger additional AML, compliance, or risk-control checks. Users are advised to avoid using HTX-related addresses when interacting with Bybit and to ensure that all account activities remain compliant with local laws and platform policies.”
What to do if your Bybit account is frozen
Do not panic, file one clear request, and let the review run.
- 1Stop sending or receiving anything that could touch HTX. A second flagged transfer only adds to the review.
- 2Open a single support ticket with your case details. Multiple tickets and chargebacks slow you down, they do not speed you up.
- 3Keep records: screenshots of the restriction, your transaction history, and any support replies.
- 4Wait out the review. These holds are being lifted, and the funds come back when the check clears.
How Trade Reclaim can help if you are affected
If you trade Bybit through Trade Reclaim and your account got caught in this, reach out, and we can raise your case directly. We work with a Bybit representative, so for affected Trade Reclaim users we can ask internally where your review stands and request faster handling. This only works for existing Trade Reclaim customers whose Bybit account is connected through our affiliate system. We cannot make an inquiry for a Bybit user who is not linked to us. We also cannot override a sanctions check, and nobody honestly can, but for our own users we can make sure the case is seen instead of sitting silently in the queue.
Earn cashback on every Bybit trade
Once you are back trading, Trade Reclaim pays you back a share of the fees on every Bybit trade, in USDT. Non-custodial, UID only, no API keys.
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Did I lose my money?
No. This is a temporary compliance hold tied to the HTX sanctions, not a seizure. Accounts and balances are being restored as the reviews clear.
Why was my account frozen if I never used HTX?
Because the screening follows the funds, not the people. If coins that reached you had earlier passed through an HTX-linked address, that link alone can flag your account.
How long does the Bybit HTX freeze last?
Bybit has given no official figure. The pattern we and others are seeing is around 30 days, after which access returns. Be wary of anyone promising an exact release date.
Should I keep using Bybit?
Yes. This is a sanctions-driven screening event hitting the whole market, not a Bybit-specific failure. Bybit, OKX and Bitget all responded the same way.
I am a Trade Reclaim user and I am affected. What now?
If your Bybit account is connected through our affiliate system, contact us and we will check your status with our Bybit contact and request a faster review. We can only do this for existing customers linked to us, not for Bybit accounts outside our system.
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