How to open an OKX account — and the deadline most people miss
How to use this guide: open OKX in a second tab and work through the steps here alongside it. Each section matches one screen you will actually see.
What makes OKX different from the other two?
All three exchanges we cover require identity verification. What differs is when they enforce it and what happens if you stall. Binance blocks deposits and trading until you are verified — you cannot get far enough to forget. OKX is the opposite shape: you register, you get in, and there is a grace period. Its help page is direct about the consequence of letting that lapse:
"Your account may be frozen if you don't complete your identity verification within the stated grace period. However, you can still access your funds and make withdrawals."
| What the account can do | Frozen account | Verified account |
|---|---|---|
| Withdraw funds | Yes | Yes |
| Convert tokens | Yes | Yes |
| Deposit | No | Yes |
| Trade | No | Yes |
| How you got here | Missed the grace period | Verified in time |
That is a milder failure than losing access to money, and OKX is clear that funds remain reachable. But it is still the kind of thing you want to meet on purpose rather than by surprise — particularly if you have an open position and discover you cannot add to it.
OKX also states it re-requests verification periodically: "We're required to regularly request that customers verify their identity information." So this is not strictly a one-time task.
What do you need in front of you before you start?
Four things: a government-issued ID that is not a screenshot and not expired, a proof-of-address document if your region asks for one, your details exactly as they appear on the document, and somewhere with decent light for the selfie. Some of what you type from them is permanent — how to pass crypto exchange KYC the first time covers the four typed answers you cannot edit afterwards and the three-month proof-of-address window.
- A government-issued ID — passport or driving licence. OKX rejects screenshots outright, wants all four corners of the document visible, and will not accept an expired one.
- A proof-of-address document, if your region asks for one — and check the date on it. OKX accepts documents issued within the last six months for EEA users and within three months for every other region. This is the single most common reason people have to stop halfway and go find a newer utility bill.
- Your details as they appear on the document — OKX asks for country of residence, nationality, full name, date of birth, ID number and residential address. Type them off the document, not from memory.
- Somewhere with decent light for the selfie: your whole face inside the oval frame, no mask, no glasses, no hat, and no glare from a flash.
Already decided and just want the link?
Register first, then work through verification below — the whole point of this guide is that you finish it in the same sitting.
Referral link — the exchange pays us a share of its fees at no extra cost to you. Full policy.
What are the steps, in order?
Six steps, in the order the form asks for them: register and secure the login, open the verification page, type the basic information off your document, upload the ID and take a selfie, add proof of address if your region needs one, then submit and wait — OKX states it reviews applications within 24 hours.
| Step | What you do | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Register and secure the login | Email or phone, unique password, authenticator app ready |
| 2 | Profile icon → Verification → Individual account | Or in the app: Menu → Account settings → Identity verification |
| 3 | Basic info — typed to match the document | Residence, nationality, full name, date of birth, ID number, address |
| 4 | ID document, then selfie | No screenshots. All four corners visible. Face inside the oval, nothing covering it |
| 5 | Proof of address, if your region needs one | Within 6 months for EEA users, within 3 months everywhere else |
| 6 | Submit and wait | OKX states it reviews applications within 24 hours |
On the web you reach it from the profile icon → Verification, then find Individual account and select Continue. In the app it is Menu → Account settings → Identity verification.
OKX states it reviews applications within 24 hours and notifies you when it is done. Plan for that window to land before you need to deposit, not after.
What should you set up while you wait for review?
Verification review is dead time — use it on the security work that is easy to skip once trading starts. An authenticator app rather than SMS, because SMS codes can be redirected by a SIM swap and authenticator codes cannot. Then a withdrawal address whitelist, so funds can only leave to addresses you approved in advance. If someone does get into the account, the whitelist is what limits the damage.
One more, and it is worth the two minutes: enable 2FA on the email account attached to the exchange. Whoever controls that inbox controls your password resets. Securing the exchange while leaving the inbox open is a locked door in an open frame.
What should you not do in the first week?
- Do not treat the grace period as spare time. Verify in the same sitting you register. The task takes ten minutes now and becomes an annoyance at exactly the wrong moment later.
- Do not go straight to perpetuals because OKX makes them easy to reach. Leverage adds liquidation, a failure mode spot buyers never face — read leverage and margin before you touch that screen.
- Do not deposit more than you need for one small trade. See the whole loop first: money in, order filled, position visible, position closed.
- Do not skip a test withdrawal while the balance is still small — see how to withdraw crypto safely. Learning that process during an emergency is the wrong time.
Where should you open the account?
Affiliate disclosure: the button below is a referral link. If you open an account through it, the exchange pays us a share of its trading fees at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we write — our editorial standards and disclosure policy set out the boundary. Availability differs by country and we cannot verify what applies where you live; check before you register.
OKX is our pick for a beginner who intends to follow the derivatives lessons later: the interface is cleaner than Binance's and the perpetuals market is deep. Its trade-off is that the documentation and defaults assume you already know the vocabulary. If you would rather compare all three first, including where each can cost you, read where to open your first trading account.
Does it cost anything to open? No. Registration and verification are free; you only pay trading fees once you trade.
Do I have to deposit straight away? No, and you should not. Open it, verify it, secure it — decide about money afterwards.
Can I close it later? Yes. An unused, verified account costs nothing to keep and nothing to leave.
Frequently asked questions
How long does OKX verification take?
OKX states it reviews applications within 24 hours and notifies you once the review is complete. The form itself takes about ten minutes if your documents are ready.
What happens if I do not verify my OKX account?
OKX says an account may be frozen if verification is not completed within the stated grace period. A frozen account can still access funds and make withdrawals, but not deposit or trade. Full access is restored once verification passes.
How recent does my proof of address have to be?
Within six months for EEA users and within three months for all other regions, according to OKX's verification help page. A document outside that window will be rejected.
Can I change my name after verification?
OKX says this is only available in certain regions. That is a reason to type your details carefully against the document the first time rather than planning to fix them later.
Why does OKX ask me to verify again later?
Its help page states that OKX is required to regularly request that customers re-confirm identity information. Re-verification is normal rather than a sign of a problem with your account.