2026 OKX Sign-Up Walkthrough: From Zero to Your First Coin
One guide that strings together sign-up, the invite code, KYC, deposits and security — follow along and miss nothing.
About 16 min read · with illustrated steps
The first time you register on a crypto exchange, just figuring out which nationality to pick, what to upload for KYC, and where the invite code goes is enough to scare off half the people who try. Here we break the whole OKX (formerly OKEx) account process into a few clear steps, so you can follow along from sign-up all the way to buying your first coin.
The official help pages are tidy, but they won't tell you "what happens if you pick the wrong nationality," "what to do when the verification code never arrives," or "can you add the invite code after you missed it." Those are the spots where beginners actually get stuck.
Which ID you have, where you live, what passport you hold — the choices at sign-up differ from case to case. We split them out so you're not blindly following a guide that doesn't fit your circumstances.
OKX's invite code can only be entered once, during sign-up — registration has to be completed with the code already in the field, and there's no adding it afterwards. We put it front and center and remind you more than once, so you don't miss it.
Don't leave 2FA and an anti-phishing code until after you've bought. Knock it out in 5 minutes on sign-up day — far easier than scrambling to fix it later.
Each step below has its own detailed guide. Read them in order, or jump straight to wherever you're stuck.
OKX sign-up only needs an email or phone number plus a password — a minute's work. Just make sure the nationality you pick here matches the ID you'll use for KYC later; getting it wrong now causes headaches down the line.
At the bottom of the sign-up page there's an "invite / referral code" field. Enter OK2707 to establish the referral relationship behind the fee rebate. It only counts at the moment you submit registration — there's no adding it later, so don't rush to hit submit.
Before you can buy or sell, you complete identity verification in the app: upload an ID plus a face scan. No national ID card needed — a passport and other government-issued documents are accepted; the exact list is what the verification page shows for your region.
For your first deposit, you buy USDT from a merchant through P2P (peer-to-peer) using a local bank transfer or card. After paying, remember to tap "I've paid" and wait for the merchant to release the coins. A few anti-scam details to watch here.
With USDT in hand you can buy Bitcoin, Ethereum and the rest. Last, spend 5 minutes setting up an authenticator app (2FA) and an anti-phishing code — only then is your account properly secured.
One guide that strings together sign-up, the invite code, KYC, deposits and security — follow along and miss nothing.
How to fill it in with a passport or other government ID, and what to do if you get rejected.
Where to enter it, why you only get one shot, who sets the rebate rate, and where to find the records.
How to pick a merchant, how to cut your risk, and what to do after you've paid.
Sign-up difficulty, fees and ease of use compared, so you can stop second-guessing.