OKX Review (2026)

What is OKX?

OKX is a cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2017 by Star Xu. The platform started as a derivatives-focused exchange and has since evolved into a comprehensive crypto ecosystem. OKX is run by founder and CEO Star Xu, with other key figures including Hong Fang (Global President) and Haider Rafique (CMO). The company has over 5,000 employees worldwide.

Globally, OKX offers 350+ cryptocurrencies with 400+ trading pairs. The platform supports spot trading, margin trading, futures with up to 125x leverage, options, perpetual contracts and an extensive suite of Earn products. With over 100 million users, OKX consistently ranks among the top 3 exchanges by trading volume.

The European entity OKX Europe Limited operates from Malta with a MiCA licence from the MFSA. European users are automatically redirected to the EU platform with 150+ cryptocurrencies and adapted regulations.

Why choose OKX?

OKX is a crypto exchange offering secure and reliable services. The key features that OKX offers to its users are:

• Buying and selling of all listed cryptocurrencies using bank transfer, credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and more.
• 30+ fiat currencies supported, including USD, EUR, GBP and more.
• 350+ cryptocurrencies and 400+ trading pairs globally.
• Trade in Bitcoin, altcoins, stablecoins and DeFi tokens.
• Multiple account security options to protect your investments.
• Futures with up to 125x leverage (Global), options and perpetual contracts.
• Earn through On-chain Earn (up to 40%), Simple Earn and staking.
• OKX Academy to learn about crypto and trading.
• Web3 wallet with access to 200,000+ tokens on 130+ blockchains.
• Proof of Reserves with monthly zk-STARK verification.
• OKX Protect: $29 trillion in trading volume protected with AI monitoring, 24/7.
• New users receive €20 in Bitcoin after purchasing €100.
• Trading platform available for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.

How to create an OKX account?

You can easily register an account by following the steps below:

1. Visit the OKX website
2. Click Sign Up
3. Enter your email address or phone number and your password
4. Click Sign Up again

After successful registration, OKX will ask for personal information to verify your identity. Under MiCA regulation, KYC (Know Your Customer) verification is mandatory. This means you need to upload a copy of your identity document before you can trade. This applies to all regulated exchanges in Europe and provides additional protection for you as a user.

Verifications and limits

Under MiCA regulation, KYC verification is mandatory. The verification steps are:

1. Personal information
2. ID identification
3. Video verification

Once verification is completed, you can trade within the limits set by OKX. If you need higher limits, you can contact OKX compliance.

How does OKX work?

OKX is simple and easy to use thanks to its very intuitive interface. The platform is supported with video tutorials to help users get started.

Trading on OKX

After completing your KYC verification, the following accounts are available to every user:

1. Funding Account: deposit cryptocurrencies to your own assigned wallet.
2. Trading Account: this account lets you trade cryptocurrencies and other assets. Transfer your crypto from your Funding account to this account to start trading.
3. Earn Account: use this for Earn products, On-chain staking and other yield services.
4. Web3 Wallet: switch to Web3 to trade 200,000+ tokens across 130+ blockchains.

Payment methods and deposits

Once you have created an OKX account, you can deposit funds by buying cryptocurrencies or transferring crypto to your OKX wallet.

On OKX Global, the platform supports a wide range of payment methods including bank transfer, credit card (Visa and Mastercard), Apple Pay and more. Over 30 fiat currencies are supported.

On OKX EU, you can deposit euros directly via various payment methods. SEPA bank transfer, Wero and Bancontact are completely free. Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and credit card (Visa/Mastercard) are also available.

Buying and selling crypto

Buying and selling cryptocurrencies is very straightforward. For user convenience, different trading options are available:

Quick Trade

A simple and quick service for buying and selling cryptocurrencies and tokens. You can pay using multiple payment methods to complete your purchase.

Block Trading (OTC)

Buy and sell in bulk through bank transfer via OTC trading. This is suitable for larger orders where you want to minimise market impact.

Trading services

Once you have deposited funds in your account, you can use different trading services. Trade various cryptocurrencies, tokens and other digital assets using Spot, Margin and Derivatives.

Spot Trading

Allows you to trade assets you own for other assets. Over 400 trading pairs are available globally (150+ pairs on the EU platform). New market pairs are regularly added.

Margin Trading

On OKX Global, margin trading is available with leverage depending on the asset and your collateral. On OKX EU, spot margin trading was launched in December 2025 with up to 10x leverage on BTC and ETH against USDC. Cross-margin mode is available, where your full portfolio serves as collateral.

Make sure you understand the risks before you start margin trading.

Derivatives trading (Global)

On OKX Global, a full suite of derivatives is available:

• Perpetuals: buy and sell using leverage up to 125x to maximise your profits. Be aware that you can also lose your entire investment.
• Futures contracts: OKX offers futures where parties agree to buy and sell crypto at a future date and price.
• Options: you can buy option contracts and choose between a call or put option.

For European users, futures and derivatives are currently limited or disabled due to MiCA regulation. OKX has obtained a MiFID II licence in Malta for offering derivatives, but this is not yet operational for retail users as of early 2026.

OKX Card

OKX offers a crypto debit card that allows you to spend your crypto at millions of merchants worldwide. The OKX Card converts your crypto to fiat automatically at the point of sale, so you can use your holdings for everyday purchases. The card supports multiple cryptocurrencies and offers cashback rewards on transactions.

The OKX Card is available to verified users and can be managed directly through the OKX app. It works with Apple Pay and Google Pay for contactless payments.

OKX Earn

OKX offers users multiple ways to generate yield on their crypto holdings.

Simple Earn

With this service, users can earn interest while holding their cryptocurrencies. Both flexible and fixed-term products are available. With flexible products you can withdraw at any time, while fixed terms generally offer a higher interest rate.

On-chain Earn

Via On-chain Earn, you can participate in on-chain staking for popular proof-of-stake coins and DeFi protocols. Returns can reach up to 40% per year, depending on the protocol and cryptocurrency. ETH staking currently offers around 4% APY, while smaller coins can offer higher returns.

X Drops Club

The X Drops Club is a unique programme for European OKX customers. If you have more than €750 in crypto on your account, you are eligible for free airdrops of new tokens. This is a nice bonus you won’t easily find on other platforms.

OKX fees and costs

OKX charges different trading fees based on your user level and region.

Global fees

On OKX Global, trading fees start at 0.10% for both makers and takers. Fees decrease further based on your 30-day trading volume and VIP level. This makes OKX one of the most competitive exchanges globally. VIP tiers are based on trading volume and OKB holdings.

European fees (EEA)

Since 1 October 2025, the trading fees for European users (EEA) are different from global rates. The European fee structure is:

• Maker fee: 0.20% per transaction
• Taker fee: 0.35% per transaction

For most users who buy via Quick Trade, the taker fee of 0.35% applies. This is higher than at Bitvavo (0.25%) and Bybit EU (0.25%), but OKX compensates with its extensive Web3 ecosystem, Earn products and the X Drops Club.

OKX does not charge fees for depositing crypto. Deposits via SEPA, Wero and Bancontact are also free. For withdrawals, standard network fees apply that vary per cryptocurrency.

20% discount

Lifetime 20% trading fee discount on all fees at OKX

Register a new account and receive a lifetime 20% trading fee discount.

Register a new account and receive a lifetime 20% trading fee discount. Show Less

Bezoek Website

OKX EU: the European platform

The European entity OKX Europe Limited holds a MiCA licence from the MFSA in Malta and has been registered with De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) in the Netherlands since 2024. This double regulation makes OKX one of the best-regulated exchanges available in Europe.

Key differences between OKX Global and OKX EU:

OKX EU is the third largest exchange by market capitalisation in the EU. The platform is especially strong in its Web3 offering, with the self-custody wallet supporting 130+ blockchains and over 200,000 tokens. On-chain Earn is available with returns up to 40%, and the X Drops Club offers free airdrops for customers holding €750+ in crypto.

OKX compared to other exchanges

Is OKX safe?

OKX Europe Limited holds a MiCA licence from the MFSA in Malta and is fully regulated under European regulation. Additionally, OKX has a DNB registration in the Netherlands. The platform is the third largest exchange by market capitalisation in the EU.

In terms of transparency, OKX stands out with its Proof of Reserves programme. The report (2026) shows $31.2 billion in primary assets with a 1:1 reserve ratio, verified via zk-STARK technology. You can verify for yourself that OKX fully covers all client funds. The reserve ratios per crypto are: BTC 105%, ETH 105%, USDT 106%, USDC 100%, XRP 111% and SOL 101%.

Since its founding, OKX has never been hacked, although SIM swap incidents occurred with individual users in 2024. These were fully compensated by OKX. In September 2025, OKX received a €2.25 million fine from DNB for offering services in the Netherlands without registration between July 2023 and August 2024.

OKX resolved this by migrating all Dutch users to the MiCA-licensed European entity.

OKX Protect is the security system that has protected $29 trillion in trading volume. The system uses AI monitoring active 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to detect and block suspicious transactions and unauthorised access.

It is a reliable platform available for all types of traders. OKX’s security protocols are well defined to ensure the safety and protection of assets and users. The platform uses a combination of cold wallets, multi-party computation (MPC) technology and backup codes. Customer support is available 24/7 for all users.

Conclusion

OKX is a top-tier cryptocurrency exchange with over 100 million users worldwide. The platform offers a comprehensive ecosystem including 350+ cryptocurrencies (globally), low fees from 0.10%, futures with up to 125x leverage, an extensive Web3 wallet, Earn products with up to 40% returns, the OKX Card and robust security with monthly Proof of Reserves verification.

For European users, OKX EU provides a regulated environment with a MiCA licence from Malta and DNB registration. While the EU fee structure (0.20%/0.35%) is higher than some competitors, OKX compensates with its unique Web3 offering, On-chain Earn and the X Drops Club. If you are looking for an exchange that combines centralised trading with Web3 access, OKX is an excellent choice. Past results do not guarantee future returns.

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