Comparing with the conventional transformer, high temperature superconducting (HTS) transformer has more advantages, such as small volume, light weight and low loss without pollution or fire hazard. In past decades, great progress on the development of high temperature superconducting (HTS) wires has been made, research and development of HTS transformer have be progressed worldwide. At present, three HTS transformer prototypes successfully operated in grid.This paper briefly introduces the research and development of both the HTS power transformer and the transaction transformer in domestic and abroad in recent years, as well as several recent projects of HTS transformers based on 2G HTS wires, pointing out that as HTS wires developing, the research in limiting current transformers is worthy of attention.