HTX Probes Mystery Deposits Amid Address Poisoning Concerns

Users recently reported receiving small amounts of USDT from sources identified by blockchain explorers as HTX-linked wallets. These reports sparked fears of "address poisoning," a tactic where attackers send negligible sums to mirror a user’s transaction history, hoping the recipient will inadvertently copy the fraudulent address for future transfers. While some users claimed their accounts faced subsequent restrictions or freezes at other platforms, no official confirmation from any exchange has validated these accounts of frozen funds.

HTX is currently examining the role of third-party address labeling services. Blockchain explorers and analytics firms often assign tags based on transaction clusters, a process that can lead to misattribution if wallets are misidentified as belonging to an exchange. The platform emphasized that displayed labels are not definitive proof of origin. As the investigation continues, the exchange has not released specific transaction hashes or the number of affected users, leaving the exact nature of the activity—whether a technical error in attribution or a deliberate malicious campaign—unresolved. Security experts advise users to manually verify full wallet addresses rather than relying on history logs, noting that compliance-related account reviews are often triggered by automated screening and should not be conflated with confirmed fraud.