How to Create an OKX Account (2026 Guide)

Creating an OKX account takes about ten minutes. Sign up with an email address and a phone number, set a strong password, confirm two verification codes, then complete identity verification (KYC) to unlock deposits, trading, and withdrawals. There is no fee to open the account.

This guide walks through the whole process step by step, including the one place OKX differs from other exchanges, how the referral code works, and how to secure the account before you put any money in.

What you need before you start

You need five things: an email address and a phone number you control, a government-issued ID, a device with a camera, and a password you have not used anywhere else.

Here is each in more detail:

• Email and phone number. OKX requires both, and each can only be linked to one account. Use ones you check regularly and that nobody else can access.
• Government-issued ID. A passport, national ID card, or driver’s license. The name on it must match the name you register with.
• Camera. The identity check includes a face-verification step, so you need a phone or computer with a working camera.
• A strong, unique password. Do not reuse a password from another site. A password manager makes this easy.

Have these ready and the whole process should take about ten minutes.

How is OKX registration different from Binance?

The main difference is that OKX requires both an email address and a phone number, while Binance lets you choose one or the other. The referral-code timing also differs.

Three practical differences to know before you start:

The referral-code timing is the one that trips people up most: if you plan to use a code, enter it during sign-up, because there is no way to add it after the account exists. The next section covers this in detail.

Why does OKX require both email and phone?

OKX binds both an email address and a phone number to the account because two independent recovery channels make the account harder to steal and harder to create fraudulently.

The reasoning is practical:

• Two recovery channels. If you lose access to your email, the phone number is still there to recover the account — and vice versa.
• One account per identity. Requiring both makes it harder to mass-create fake or duplicate accounts, since each email and each phone number can only be used once.
• Redundant security alerts. Login alerts and withdrawal confirmations can go to both channels, so a compromise of one is not automatically a full takeover.

The trade-off is on your side: your phone number becomes part of your account, so protect it against a SIM-swap. The defense is simple — when you enable two-factor authentication, use an authenticator app rather than SMS, because SMS is the channel attackers target.

How to create an OKX account step by step

Sign-up happens in a few quick stages — country selection, email, verification codes, password, then identity check. Work through them in order.

Step 1: Open the sign-up page

Go to the official OKX website in your browser, or install the OKX app from your device’s app store, and tap Sign up.

A note on links: only use the official site or app store. Scammers build fake OKX sites that look identical, so check the URL carefully before you type anything. If you are using a referral link, the invite code is applied automatically during registration.

Step 2: Choose your country or region

Select your country or region (and state, if prompted), then read and acknowledge the Terms of Service, Risk and Compliance Disclosure, and Privacy Notice.

Your country of residence matters more than your citizenship: some features, trading pairs, and withdrawal options are restricted depending on local regulations. For example, OKX P2P trading is not available to US residents.

Step 3: Enter your email and referral code

Enter the email address you want to use. If you have a referral code, enter it now — the field is on the sign-up page, and this is your only chance to use it.

The referral code is optional, but entering it during registration is the only way to claim any associated rewards or fee benefits. A code entered correctly at sign-up is locked in for the life of the account.

💡 Don't have an OKX account yet? Sign up now — enter the invite code 60895497.

Step 4: Verify your email

OKX sends a six-digit verification code to the email address you entered, valid for 10 minutes. Enter the code to confirm you own the address.

If the code does not arrive, check your spam folder, make sure you typed the address correctly, and wait a moment before requesting a new one.

Step 5: Add and verify your phone number

Enter your phone number with the correct country code. OKX sends a second six-digit code to your phone; enter it to verify the number.

This is the step people skip past. OKX binds both your email and your phone to the account, and both are used for security alerts and recovery — so use a number you will keep.

Step 6: Create a strong password

Set a password with a mix of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols. Keep it confidential, and never share it with anyone, even someone claiming to work for OKX.

A password that is long, random, and unique to OKX is the best kind. If OKX is ever breached, a reused password from another site is the first thing attackers try.

Step 7: Complete identity verification (KYC)

Upload a government-issued ID — passport, national ID, or driver’s license — and complete the short face-verification check. You must be at least 18.

This step is mandatory: an unverified account cannot deposit, trade, withdraw, borrow, or transfer funds. The verification levels are covered in the next section.

Step 8: Make your first deposit

If you plan to join a new-user campaign, do it before your first deposit — a deposit made earlier may not count toward the campaign tasks. Then deposit crypto from another wallet, or buy crypto with a card or bank transfer.

In some regions, deposits are subject to the Travel Rule, which may require extra information before funds are credited.

How does OKX identity verification (KYC) work?

OKX splits verification into two levels: Lv1 confirms your name and ID details, and Lv2 adds an ID photo and facial recognition to unlock full functionality.

The two levels, in plain terms:

Two rules that catch people out:

• One ID, one account. A single identity document can be linked to only one OKX account, and once verification is complete it cannot be changed or canceled.
• Review time varies. Submitting the ID and face check takes a few minutes; review usually completes in about 10 to 30 minutes but can take up to 24 hours. OKX emails you if it needs more information.

Use a clear, well-lit photo of your ID and a steady face scan — blurry documents are the most common reason for a rejected submission.

Do you need an OKX referral code?

A referral code is optional, but it is the only way to claim referral rewards and fee benefits — and it must be entered during registration, not after.

Three facts to get straight:

• Timing is everything. The code is entered on the sign-up page. Once the account is created, a code cannot be added or changed.
• A referral link applies the code automatically. If you sign up through someone’s link, the code fills in for you; if you register directly, you enter it by hand.
• Referral enrollment stacks with new-user promos. Signing up through a referral often enrolls you in new-user events, whose rewards come from completing tasks like KYC and a first deposit.

The practical takeaway: if you have a code, use it now — there is no “I’ll add it later.”

💡 Don't have an OKX account yet? Sign up now — enter the invite code 60895497.

What to do after your account is created

Once the account exists, do three things before you fund it: turn on two-factor authentication, join any new-user campaign, and verify you can log out and back in.

• Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA). An authenticator app such as Google Authenticator is the strongest option. 2FA is the single most effective protection against account takeover if your password leaks.
• Join a new-user campaign first. As noted in Step 8, campaign rewards usually require you to join before your first deposit — join first, deposit second.
• Verify recovery works. Confirm you can sign back in with your email, phone, and 2FA. If you cannot get back in on day one, you will not be able to on the day you need it.

Getting these three right on day one costs a few minutes and removes most of the account-level risk before there is any money in the account.

Common problems and how to fix them

Most registration problems are one of four simple issues, each with a quick fix.

• Verification code never arrives. Check the spam folder, confirm the email or number is typed correctly, and switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data to rule out a network issue.
• Email or phone “already registered.” Each email and phone number can only be used once. If you do not recognize the existing account, use password recovery or contact OKX support.
• KYC rejected. The usual cause is a blurry or mismatched document. Re-take the ID photo in good light and make sure the name on the ID matches the name you registered with.
• Region restrictions. Some features, pairs, and withdrawal options vary by country. Your country of residence — not your citizenship — determines what is available.

If none of these fixes the issue, OKX support is the next step, and you can reach it from the app or website without logging in.

What can you do on OKX once you are verified?

Once your KYC is approved, the account unlocks three things worth knowing about: spot trading, demo trading, and a bundled self-custody Web3 wallet.

• Spot trading. The beginner starting point is the spot market — open Trade > Spot from the navigation bar. This is where you buy and sell crypto at the current market price, with no leverage or borrowed funds.
• Demo trading. OKX offers practice accounts funded with test assets, so you can learn the interface and place orders without risking real money. It is worth a session before your first real trade.
• The Web3 wallet. OKX bundles a self-custody wallet alongside the main account. It is a separate world from the trading account — the trading account is custodial, while the Web3 wallet gives you your own keys.

If you are new, the sensible order is: fund the account, try a small spot trade or a demo session, and leave the Web3 wallet and anything involving leverage until the basics feel familiar. For how to get money in, read our guide on depositing funds into OKX.

The bottom line

Creating an OKX account takes about ten minutes: register with an email and a phone number, enter a referral code now if you have one, verify both, set a strong password, and complete KYC to unlock trading. Turn on 2FA and join any new-user campaign before your first deposit.

If you are choosing between exchanges, our Binance vs OKX comparison lays out the trade-offs. For the next steps after sign-up, read how to deposit funds into OKX and how fees work so you know what trading will actually cost.