Bitaigen Research Currently, the development of blockchain applications points strongly toward DeFi as a major direction. DeFi stands for *Decentralized Finance* and literally translates to “decentralized finance.” It refers to a system of decentralized protocols built on blockchain networks that adopts an open, accessible, and inclusive financial system. DeFi operates without permissioned entry, allowing financial applications to be transformed, connected, and utilized without restrictions.
Huobi Eco Chain (HECO) is a high‑efficiency public chain launched by Huobi that is compatible with the EVM. Its native token is HT, and it offers a 3‑second block time and low transaction fees. Users can transfer assets with any wallet that supports HECO, participate in DeFi projects, and engage in mining.
We will examine HECO’s core features from both a technical and ecosystem perspective, helping readers quickly understand the positioning, advantages, and practical use‑cases of the Huobi Eco Chain in DeFi scenarios. Afterwards, we will guide you on how to use wallets and join projects. To get the full picture of HECO, keep reading.
What Is the Huobi Eco Chain (HECO)
Huobi Launches “HECO”
On December 10, 2020, Huobi’s global site released an official announcement formally launching the Huobi ECO Chain (hereafter HECO), aimed at helping developers build decentralized applications (dApps) flexibly and efficiently.
HECO is a decentralized, high‑throughput, energy‑efficient public chain and the first product of the Huobi Open Platform. Built to support high‑performance transactions, it also achieves smart‑contract compatibility. Its native digital asset is HT, and it uses the HPoS (Hybrid Proof‑of‑Stake) consensus mechanism.
- HECO official website: <https://www.hecochain.com/zh-cn/>
- Mainnet block explorer: <https://scan.hecochain.com/home/index>
- Developer documentation: <https://docs.hecochain.com/#/>
HECO is more than just a public chain; it leverages the world’s largest trading ecosystem to create a complete closed loop of technology development, application promotion, and trading. The Huobi Open Platform and HECO complement each other’s resources, offering global developers diverse innovation pathways and foundational services, lowering the cost of building decentralized applications and improving efficiency.
As of January 27, 2021, HECO had deployed 48 projects, more than 1.7 million non‑zero addresses, and a total value locked (TVL) exceeding $1.197 billion USD.
Why Was HECO Launched?
HECO addresses the high transaction fees and poor asset interoperability that plague the Ethereum ecosystem. It efficiently links users, assets, and decentralized applications, dramatically reducing the barriers to application deployment and growth. For developers, HECO offers the following core characteristics:
- An open, decentralized network that safeguards both the network and assets.
- EVM programmability, delivering smart‑contract compatibility and lowering development and maintenance costs.
- Meta‑transaction capability, providing fee subsidies that further cut on‑chain expenses.
- HPoS consensus with a 3‑second block time, accelerating transaction finality.
- Cross‑chain asset transfer, improving the experience of moving assets between chains.
As the first product of the Huobi Open Platform, HECO boasts high throughput, low latency, and stable security, delivering an efficient and low‑cost on‑chain experience. The platform naturally attracts high‑quality developers and early‑stage innovative projects; Huobi also provides a free testing environment with no chargeable scenarios.
Significance of HECO’s Launch
Although many public chains support DeFi, HECO has been especially active recently, driven by three major factors:
- Technical advantage: a 3‑second block time and low fees enhance user experience.
- Ecosystem support: Huobi established the HECO Ecosystem Fund (HECO Fund), focusing investments on DEXs, lending platforms, oracles, cross‑chain solutions, stable‑coin swaps, insurance, and related projects.
- Regulatory oversight and empowerment: Through the fund and platform supervision, Huobi helps projects grow within a healthy environment, curbing malicious manipulation.
HECO efficiently links users, assets, and decentralized applications, further lowering the entry barrier for application deployment and providing developers and users with low‑cost, high‑efficiency on‑chain services.
How to Get the Most Out of the Huobi Eco Chain (HECO)
1. Wallets That Support HECO
Current mainstream HECO‑compatible wallets include:
- Mobile: TokenPocket (often abbreviated as TP Wallet)
- Desktop: MetaMask (the “fox” wallet)
2. Downloading a Wallet
- Open the TP Wallet official site and select the Android download or install via Google Play.
- iOS users can obtain the app through the App Store (an overseas Apple ID is required) or via TestFlight. After first opening, remember to trust the application in the device settings.
3. Creating a Wallet
- Launch TP Wallet, tap “I don’t have a wallet” → select “Huobi Eco Chain.”
- Tap “Create Wallet,” then sequentially set the wallet name, password, and confirm.
- After completing the fields, press the blue “Create Wallet” button at the bottom.
- Backup the mnemonic phrase: Do not screenshot or transmit it over the internet; write it down by hand and store it securely.
After these steps, TP Wallet will generate a HECO address. Transfer HT tokens from an exchange (U.S. users should use Binance.US or another SEPA/SWIFT‑compatible platform) to this address, then you can conduct transfers or participate in mining on the HECO chain.
4. Mining HECO Projects Within TP Wallet
- Tap the “Discover” button at the bottom, and enter the target DApp name or project website in the search bar.
- The mining workflow can be summarized as: Select → Stake → Authorize → Confirm. If you wish to stop participating, you can withdraw the liquidity.
The HECO ecosystem is divided into four development phases:
| Phase | Goal |
|---|---|
| Seed | Improve transaction performance and reduce fees |
| Spark | Optimize developer toolchains and mature the ecosystem |
| Blaze | Launch cross‑chain interoperability protocols and upgrade consensus |
| Wildfire | Support multiple virtual machines, provide privacy safeguards and multi‑signature solutions |
Currently, HECO remains in the Seed phase, focusing on enhancing transaction performance and lowering costs.
That concludes the comprehensive analysis of What Is the Huobi Eco Chain (HECO)? How to Use HECO? For more educational material on HECO, follow Bitaigen (比特根) and its related series of articles.
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- Hoo Exchange vs Huobi: Security, Features & Fees Review
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