On November 9, 2026, cryptocurrency exchange HTX announced the launch of spot trading for a suite of tokenized U.S. equities and exchange‑traded funds, branded as bStocks. The initial rollout includes 20 assets—such as Nvidia (NVDA), Tesla (TSLA), Alphabet (GOOGL), MicroStrategy (MSTR), and the QQQ ETF—paired with USDT. The move expands HTX’s TradFi offering, which previously focused on futures, and is accompanied by a three‑month promotional period featuring zero maker fees and a series of user incentives.

Zero‑maker‑fee promotion and fee structure

According to HTX’s announcement, maker (limit) orders on the 20 designated bStocks pairs will incur no fees from November 9, 2026, through February 9, 2027. Standard taker fees continue to apply, meaning market orders still generate a charge. The fee waiver is intended to cover the year‑end trading period and the U.S. earnings season that begins in January.

Rewards carnival and referral program

HTX launched a “trading carnival” that runs until February 9, 2027. Participants can earn a full rebate of any maker fees paid on a day they trade at least 10,000 USDT, and a share of a 50,000 USDT prize pool after reaching 500,000 USDT cumulative volume. The top three traders with at least 5 million USDT each will receive iPhone Duo 1TB devices. Daily lucky draws grant one entry per 200 USDT of spot volume, with a guaranteed prize and a grand prize of an iPhone 18 Pro Max. From November 9‑23, users can also earn up to 200 USDT in spot‑token coupons by referring friends who trade at least 100 USDT, and by completing limited‑time TradFi tasks that unlock additional asset‑boost rewards.

Token mechanics and regulatory context

The bStocks tokens provide economic exposure to the underlying securities but do not convey direct shareholder rights, voting power, or guaranteed dividend treatment, according to HTX. They are issued on the BNB Smart Chain and are described as tokenized derivatives; market prices may diverge from the reference stocks. The launch follows recent regulatory developments, including the dismissal of SEC claims against HTX founder Justin Sun in March 2026 and a separate $10 million penalty against Rainberry. HTX has not disclosed a custodian for the underlying securities, and geographic eligibility remains limited, with no confirmation that U.S. residents can access the pairs.

What to watch next

Key upcoming milestones include the opening of withdrawals for bStocks tokens, the rollout of additional tokenized assets beyond the initial 20, and any clarification on custodial arrangements or cross‑chain support. Market participants will also monitor how the zero‑maker‑fee incentive impacts trading volume and whether other exchanges replicate HTX’s model for tokenized equities.