What Is a Sub-Account?

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In the evolving landscape of digital asset management, efficient organization and strategic allocation of funds are critical. One powerful tool that platforms like OKX offer to enhance trading flexibility and risk control is the sub-account. A sub-account is an auxiliary account linked to your primary OKX account, allowing you to manage multiple trading strategies independently while maintaining centralized oversight.

You can create several sub-accounts to diversify your approach across different markets or investment styles—such as spot trading, margin trading, futures contracts, or deposit management. While deposits and internal transfers are supported, withdrawals are not permitted from sub-accounts, ensuring better control and security over fund distribution.

This structure is ideal for traders who want to segment their capital for specific strategies, teams, or performance tracking without creating entirely separate accounts.

👉 Discover how sub-accounts can boost your trading efficiency and strategy separation.


How to Create a Sub-Account

Creating a sub-account on OKX is a straightforward process designed to give you quick access to advanced portfolio management features.

  1. Log in to your main OKX account via the official website.
  2. Navigate to Profile and select Sub-accounts.
  3. Click + Create Sub-Account, then enter a Login Name and choose the account type.

There are two primary types of sub-accounts available:

  1. Review all details carefully and click Confirm All.
  2. Complete the verification by entering your two-factor authentication (2FA) code.

Once confirmed, your sub-account will be active and ready for use.

Important Notes:

By segmenting your trading operations, you gain clearer insights into performance metrics, reduce cross-strategy risk, and improve overall capital discipline.


How to Log In to a Sub-Account

After setting up one or more sub-accounts, switching between them is simple and secure.

  1. Log in to your primary account at okx.com.
  2. Go to Profile > Sub-Accounts.
  3. Enable the Switchable option to allow seamless transitions between your main and sub-accounts.
Enabling "Switchable" allows you to move between accounts without re-authenticating each time, streamlining your workflow.
  1. Next to the desired sub-account, click Switch. Alternatively, go to Profile > Switch Account and select the sub-account you'd like to access.

Once switched, you’ll have full access to trading, balance viewing, and order management within that sub-account—just as if you were logged in directly.

This feature is particularly useful for managing multiple strategies or monitoring delegated trading teams without logging out and back in repeatedly.

👉 Learn how easy it is to manage multiple strategies with seamless account switching.


Core Use Cases for Sub-Accounts

Sub-accounts aren't just about organization—they’re strategic tools that serve real-world trading needs.

1. Risk Isolation

By allocating fixed amounts to separate sub-accounts for different strategies (e.g., high-leverage futures vs. conservative spot trades), you prevent losses in one area from affecting others.

2. Team-Based Trading

If you collaborate with analysts or external traders, a custodial sub-account lets them trade on your behalf while you retain full control over withdrawals and security settings.

3. Performance Tracking

Each sub-account operates independently, making it easier to track P&L, win rates, and ROI for specific strategies or time periods.

4. VIP Benefits Through Delegation

Using a custodial model encourages professional teams to perform well—since higher volumes can unlock VIP fee tiers, benefiting both parties.

These applications make sub-accounts valuable not only for institutional traders but also for serious retail investors aiming for structured growth.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I withdraw funds from a sub-account?
A: No. Withdrawals are restricted on all sub-accounts for security reasons. To access funds, transfer them back to the main account first.

Q: How many sub-accounts can I create?
A: Standard users (Levels 1–5) can create up to 10 sub-accounts. Higher-level users may have increased limits—check your profile settings for details.

Q: Are sub-accounts available on mobile apps?
A: Sub-accounts can only be created on the OKX website. However, once created, they can be viewed and managed via the mobile app after switching from the main account.

Q: Do sub-accounts have independent KYC levels?
A: No. Sub-accounts mirror the KYC level of the main account and update automatically every 24 hours.

Q: Can I assign API keys to sub-accounts?
A: Yes. Each sub-account supports its own set of API keys, which is especially useful for algorithmic traders running automated bots on isolated capital.

Q: Is there a fee to create or maintain a sub-account?
A: No. Creating and using sub-accounts is completely free on OKX.


Sub-accounts represent a smart evolution in personal and team-based crypto trading. Whether you're testing new strategies, delegating trades, or simply organizing your capital more effectively, this feature adds layers of control and clarity that few platforms offer at no additional cost.

With built-in security, flexible configuration options, and seamless integration into OKX’s broader ecosystem—including spot, margin, futures, and deposit functions—you’re equipped to scale your trading operations intelligently.

👉 Start using sub-accounts today and take your trading strategy to the next level.