The lessons behind 13 years of change and Huobi HTX's persistence

If you flash back to 2011, you'd need 162 Bitcoins to buy an iPhone 4s. Back then, the iPhone was still the pinnacle of consumer tech, and Bitcoin was considered a "numbers game" for a select few. By 2025, however, a brand new iPhone 17 is worth just 0.007 BTC. In just over a decade, the iPhone has continued to evolve at a steady clip, while the value of Bitcoin has undergone a dramatic transformation. These somewhat exaggerated figures reflect the rise of crypto assets and the industry's transition from wild growth to maturity.

 
iPhone and BTC: Witness of the times in the price curve

The price of iPhone 4s was as high as 162 BTC, and the price of iPhone 5s has dropped to 5 BTC, and iPhone 6s is worth 2.8 BTC; after entering 2017, iPhone 8 only costs 0.19 BTC; today's iPhone 17 is almost only 0.007 BTC. From 162 BTC to 0.007 BTC—a seemingly unbelievable curve—truly reflects the long-term rise of Bitcoin's price. Some quip, "Those who bought iPhones back then missed an opportunity for financial freedom." But the truth is more profound: Bitcoin's rise from obscurity is the result of both the accumulating consensus on the technology and the development and improvement of the crypto industry's infrastructure. Huobi HTX: A 12-Year Long-Term Builder Guarding Industry Growth Along with Bitcoin, other crypto asset trading platforms have grown deeply involved in the industry. Huobi HTX, a leading exchange established early in the industry, celebrates its 12th anniversary this year. Throughout this period, Huobi HTX has witnessed the crypto world's ups and downs, and through continuous security development and compliance initiatives, has accompanied users through successive cycles. Looking back on Huobi HTX's 12-year development, we can see how an exchange has grown from a startup to a leading global cryptocurrency trading platform. Huobi was founded in 2013: Riding the wave of internet innovation, Huobi was born when the price of BTC was less than $1,000. 2017: Industry frenzy and regulatory challenges: Bitcoin surpassed the 10,000 yuan mark, and Huobi amassed a massive user base, while also facing global compliance pressure. 2020 onwards: Compliance and internationalization: Huobi accelerated its globalization efforts, continuously advancing its multi-regional license applications, and its user base leapt to a global leading position. From 2023 to 2025, Huobi will undergo a brand renewal and security strategy upgrade: Huobi will be rebranded as Huobi HTX, marking a new chapter in its global expansion. Security efforts will continue to improve, with the public Merkle Proof of Reserve (PoR) maintained for 35 consecutive months to ensure asset transparency. Huobi will also introduce the industry's first "0% freeze + 100% compensation" mechanism for C2C deposits and withdrawals, completely resolving user concerns about fund security. Similar to the long-term logic behind Bitcoin's value curve, Huobi HTX will continuously upgrade its products and security systems over a 12-year period to safeguard the assets of tens of millions of users worldwide. Security is the "hard currency" of exchanges. The most fundamental consideration for users choosing an exchange is the security of their funds. Bitcoin's decade-long growth is the result of accumulated consensus, and Huobi HTX's rapid development is inseparable from the continuous iteration of its underlying security infrastructure. Since the launch of its C2C selection platform, Huobi HTX has maintained zero freezes and promised 100% compensation, addressing the risks most concerned by users depositing and withdrawing funds. Furthermore, Huobi HTX has continuously invested in security measures such as key management, hot and cold wallet isolation, and cross-chain asset custody to ensure the safety of user assets. This extreme pursuit of security mirrors Apple's continuous iteration of its hardware. Just as the iPhone 17's MIE hardware-level "memory security" upgrade provides enhanced protection for high-net-worth users and crypto-signers, Huobi HTX similarly uses professional technology and strict systems to build a series of security defenses for its users. In conclusion: Only by staying true to our original aspiration can we achieve our goals. The comparison of iPhone prices serves as a footnote to Bitcoin's growth. Huobi HTX's 12-year development history mirrors the industry's evolution. If Bitcoin's rising value demonstrates the power of time, then Huobi HTX's unwavering commitment to security demonstrates the power of trust. As Bitcoin has evolved from a niche cryptocurrency community into a global financial system, Huobi HTX has transformed from an exchange into a comprehensive crypto financial services platform. It has not only witnessed the industry's rapid growth but also played a vital role in security development and rule-making. On its 12th anniversary, Huobi HTX not only delivered impressive results but also demonstrated, through concrete actions, the long-term approach of a trading platform. In the future, regardless of Bitcoin's price fluctuations, users will find a core sense of security on Huobi HTX.

About Huobi HTX

Founded in 2013, Huobi HTX has grown from a cryptocurrency exchange into a comprehensive blockchain business ecosystem, covering digital asset trading, financial derivatives, research, investment, incubation, and other businesses.

As a leading global Web3 portal, Huobi HTX adheres to a development strategy of global expansion, ecological prosperity, wealth creation, and security and compliance, providing comprehensive, secure, and reliable value and services to cryptocurrency enthusiasts worldwide.

For more information about Huobi HTX, please visit https://www.htx.com/ or HTX Square, and follow us on X, Telegram, and Discord. For further inquiries, please contact [email protected].