The account-opening bonus has been raised to $500. This is probably the highest bonus ever, though the requirements are now higher. If you sign up through the link below, you can still get a permanent 10% discount on trading fees! There is also a 5% deposit match right now, which can work out to an effective annual return of 9.1%. Tips are below.

  • OKX referral link (sign up through the link, or use referral code NEW500 when registering on the mobile app)

There are four tasks in total, and the rewards can be stacked for a total of up to $500. You need to complete the deposit and trading within 7 days after opening the account for it to count.

  • Deposit and trade $1,000: get $10 BTC (cumulative $10 BTC)
  • Deposit and trade $3,000: get another $40 BTC (cumulative $60 BTC)
  • Deposit and trade $10,000: get $100 BTC (cumulative $150 BTC)
  • Deposit and trade $30,000: get another $350 BTC (cumulative $500 BTC)

Here are some tips for getting the account-opening bonus:

  • Both buys and sells count toward trading volume, so to meet the $1,000 trading requirement, you only need to buy and sell $500 each. Of course, you still have to deposit the full $1,000. Likewise, to complete the $500 reward tier, you only need to deposit $30,000 and buy and sell $15,000.
  • Stablecoin trading no longer counts toward the trading and account-opening bonus spend requirements now (for example, USDT, USDC, USDG, and RLUSD do not count). Also, the trading volume here can be cumulative. Rewards are credited as soon as the trading requirement is met and can be traded immediately, but they cannot be withdrawn until 30 days later.
  • If you buy and then sell immediately, you can basically ignore price fluctuations. You can buy BTC, the largest cryptocurrency, which has relatively low risk, or buy USDS, a stablecoin that is not on the excluded list.
  • The rewards are credited instantly, and there is a tracker you can use to check progress, so if anything is missing, just complete that task ( activity summary ).
  • In my test, the total buy/sell fee for USDS was 2%, so the cost to reach the $500 reward tier is to trade $5,000 by buying and selling, which works out to a $100 cost. Net profit is $400, not bad.
  • If you do not mind short-term price swings, I recommend buying BTC, which has one of the lowest spreads, or using spot trading. In that case, the buy/sell cost works out to around 1.6%, which is a bit better than USDS.
  • The portion needed to meet the total deposit amount must stay in the account for 30 days and cannot be withdrawn, otherwise the reward may be clawed back. You can convert it into RLUSD and earn the 5% deposit match plus the 3.5% APY savings reward, so it is still worthwhile even if you keep it there for 30 days.

OKX now has a deposit match promotion. You can see it and activate it in your account. All deposits can receive a 5% match, with a maximum amount of $100,000. You need to hold it for at least 50 weeks to receive it. Fifty weeks is a little under one year, which is equivalent to 5% APY. After depositing, you can buy RLUSD or USDG and stack the 3.5% APY savings reward (if you deposit $100,000 into the VIP tier, you can get 4.1% APY). That adds up to an effective APY of 8.5% or 9.1%. The promotion expires on August 7, so act fast!

RLUSD/USDG are also a type of stablecoin and are also pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar. New users should still learn a bit about this before deciding whether to go for this high yield. Ask GPT or something similar, and then read up on crypto and stablecoins before proceeding.

If you have questions, you can also join our discussion group.

About OKX

OKX is one of the leading cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. It was founded early and its trading volume, liquidity, and user base are all in the industry’s top tier. The main reasons it is considered relatively reliable include the long-running publication of proof of reserves, which lets users verify whether the platform holds enough assets; regulatory approvals in regions such as Europe, Singapore, and Dubai; and security features such as two-factor authentication, withdrawal whitelists, and anti-phishing codes.

That said, being relatively reliable does not mean absolutely safe. OKX is still a centralized exchange, so user assets are generally not protected by FDIC bank deposit insurance, and there are still risks related to regulation, hacking, and account controls. Overall, OKX is suitable for everyday trading and moving funds around, but it is not a good idea to keep all of your assets there.

Registration and rewards

Account-opening bonus

The account-opening bonus has been raised to $500. This is probably the highest bonus ever! You can earn rewards for registering, verifying your identity, and trading. In addition, if you register from this link now, you can enjoy a permanent 10% discount on trading fees!

  • OKX referral link (sign up through the link, or use referral code NEW50 when registering)

Registration requirements

  • The bonus is only for users with a U.S. IP address and U.S. address, and identity verification requires SSN/ITIN.
  • Automatic verification usually clears instantly. If your application needs review, you will need to upload specific documents.
  • In testing, a Chinese passport plus a U.S. address can pass verification instantly.
  • NY/TX residents cannot register for now.

Registration and deposit flow

Practical stepsStep 1.

  • Register an OKX account: registration link (you must register before you can participate in the promotion)

Step 2. Complete KYC identity verification. Enter your SSN/ITIN, and it will automatically pull up your information. After you confirm it, it should usually clear instantly. If not, you will need to enter the information yourself.

Verification with a U.S. driver’s license takes only a few minutes. Once approved, you can deposit. A Chinese passport can also be used for identity verification. In addition to the document, a selfie verification is also required.

  • This is required for the account-opening bonus.
Step 3. Deposit
  • Deposit method 1: Link a bank account and transfer U.S. dollars directly through Plaid.
  • Deposit method 2: Transfer other crypto assets.

Step 4. Trade

Simply search for the cryptocurrency you want to buy and pay with the funds in your account. According to customer support, once the trading requirement is met, the reward will be sent directly to the account.

I found that USDS also counts (its value is very stable, so you can check it yourself), and the reward arrives instantly!

Highlights

Activity summary

You can see all currently active promotions and your progress on this page. This deposit match is basically giving you 5%; the say hello $500 offer is your account-opening bonus! You can check all progress inside.

High-Yield Account

If you buy the stablecoin USDG on OKX, you can earn up to 4.1% APY. USDG is pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar, so it’s relatively low risk. You can use the account directly as a high-yield account, or park funds there for a while and deploy them when you’re ready to enter the market.

The 4.1% rate is only available to VIP users; regular users get 3.5%. The minimum deposit is low, interest is paid weekly, and there’s no need to subscribe to any extra membership.

VIP Rules

They grant VIP status based on everyone’s trading volume. You can enjoy up to 95% off trading fees, more free airdrops, up to 10% APY on USDG, and more. Overall, it’s pretty good for high-volume traders.

If you have VIP status at another platform, you can also fill out a form for a match

Free Drop Promotion

From time to time, they run airdrop campaigns and give out free tokens to users with deposits above $$2,000. You can check the app from time to time; if you catch one, it’s all upside.

Deposit Match Promotion

They also run Deposit Match promotions from time to time, where depositing money can earn an extra 5%-10% reward. The highest offer has been a 10% match, so depositing $3,000 USDG could get you $300. If there are any good offers later, we’ll update everyone promptly.

  • Deposit/buy USDG to get a 5% match (there has been a 10% match before, up to $300 USDG)
  • You must hold it for 90 days to unlock the reward
  • USDG is a stablecoin issued by Paxos and is pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar
  • There is also a 5% APY annual yield

Summary

OKX is one of the world’s top five all-in-one crypto exchanges, and one of the world’s second-largest derivatives exchanges. This reward is pretty good, and if you’re not opposed to crypto, you can give this exchange a try. After all, the sign-up bonus alone is already quite attractive.

If you’re interested in other crypto platforms, you can check out our compiled articles and short reviews

Platform Summary Bonus
OKX Top-tier global platform; strong spot and derivatives liquidity; rich selection of coins and products; relatively low fees; reserves published monthly; robust account security features; interface is a bit complex; suitable for advanced traders. $500+ 10% fee discount
Bitget Known for derivatives trading; mature copy-trading features; wide coin selection; competitive fees; reserves published monthly; lots of promotional rewards; many high-risk products; suitable for active traders $750 for US stocks, $10,000 for transfers; get 6,200u on account opening + an exclusive trading fee discount
Bit (formerly Matrixport) Strong institutional finance background; broad licensing footprint across regions; relatively rich wealth-management products; supports US stocks and RWA; suitable for cross-asset allocation; not a top-tier platform by trading volume; higher learning curve for products; better for professional investors. Transfer in and get up to a $300 stock cash card, plus a chance to win an iPhone 17 Pro
Coinbase Broad US licensing coverage; convenient USD deposits; simple, easy-to-use interface; transparent asset custody; relatively curated coin selection; spreads on standard buys are on the high side; stricter account risk controls; suitable for long-term US users. Unknown
Gemini Long-established US exchange; strong focus on security and compliance; clean, easy-to-use interface; fewer coin options; relatively small trading volume; higher standard trading fees; not especially rich in advanced features; suitable for low-frequency, conservative users. Trade $100, get $50
Kraken Long-established platform in the US and Europe; strong industry reputation; reserves can be independently verified; Kraken Pro fees are low; fiat channels are well developed; interface is more professional; trading features are fairly comprehensive; suitable for intermediate and advanced users. Around $100, plus cashback sites
eToro One-stop stocks and crypto platform; social copy trading is its standout feature; very user-friendly interface; suitable for investing beginners; crypto trading fees are about 1%; relatively limited coin selection; weaker professional trading tools; more like an all-in-one investing platform. Deposit $100, get $30

Sign-up Link

  • OKX sign-up link (register through the link, or use referral code NEW500 when registering in the mobile app)