HTX Dusting Panic Freezes Crypto Exchange Accounts

Users of cryptocurrency exchanges are reporting that unexpected deposits from HTX have caused their accounts to be frozen. One user, who posted on social media, claimed that a deposit of $7.5 in Tether (USDT) was made into their Coinbase account without their request.

The issue is attributed to what's known as 'dusting', where tiny amounts of cryptocurrency are sent to many wallets at once. This can cost the sender almost nothing but can lock up entire accounts for users who receive these unsolicited deposits.

HTX has denied any involvement in the transfers, saying that an internal review found no evidence of official participation. However, some users are suspicious of the timing, given recent restrictions on HTX transactions imposed by exchanges like Binance.

The UK froze HTX's assets in May due to suspected dealings with sanctioned Russian financial firms. This has led compliance software at major exchanges to treat any HTX-linked coins as 'toxic', even if users didn't request them.