HEAT isn't a clone of NXT, but a more advanced system on both capacity and features. Parts of HEAT are based on NXT's p2p protocol and cryptography, relying on the proven core parts while being able to offer a more extensive feature set.

HEAT supports legacy API format compatible with NXT, as described in the server file heat-default.properties:

#### LEGACY API - REQUIRES INCLUSION OF `heatledger-legacy-*.*.*.jar` #######

# Heat legacy API offers an NXT compatible API of a selected set of NXT API's to
# accommodate existing application operators to hook-in HEAT technology easily using
# existing NXT based sysyems.
#
# Not all API's are included in the legacy API if you or your organization requires
# one or more specific NXT based API's please contact us at support@heatledger.com
# to discuss the possibilities of adding your missing API.
#
# Currently we provide compatibility for the following NXT API's, this includes
# messages and encryptedMessages
#
#   - getAccountId
#   - getBalance
#   - getBlockId
#   - getBlocks
#   - getTransaction
#   - sendMoney
#   - getBlockchainTransactions (requires heat.replicatorEnabled=true)
#

If exchanges wish to use the more advanced features of HEAT, they need to alter their NXT based system. They need to alter it regardless, as ports etc. aren't the same.

Cross posting this to the HEAT Announcements and Technical info discussion thread, as it's a good question.

And what advanced features would that be? An exchange needs an account and to be able to send transactions. As far as I can tell that is easily possible. What more have exchanges asked for that was too complicated?

And yet another deception unveiled right in front of your eyes.
Exchanges could just copy the NXT integration although Svante suggested otherwise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pks7q2qyM-s

We just finished our daily wrapup with Dennis and are approaching finalization of the 3rd party partner-customer EUR gateway software. This will enable us to finally proceed with the deployment of the crypto <-> fiat gateway with fiat-like tokens tradeable on the Heat Wallet. The scope won't be limited to the EUR HEAT pair and EUR BTC pairs - the plan is to eventually allow numerous trading pairs, even new aspiring ICOs and ITOs to be traded against an EUR pegged crypto token.

The legal arrangements to make this possible are still in progress, so a few weeks on this side is expected until we can go ahead with releasing the said tokens. We've got a couple of nice ITOs cooking since a good while waiting for this fiat funding opportunity. Also the Heat Ledger Ltd options giveaway and subsequent trading + share sale require fully working fiat gateway to allow influx of new money some of which will necessarily be channeled to the value of the HEAT token itself.

As the pace continues to rise and Heat Ledger Ltd gains traction, a new video ad welcomes new members to join our community.



https://youtu.be/P6YjaXjHSvI