Referral code (fee rebate)
Also called: referral code · invite code · referral link · fee rebate code
Definition
A referral code is a code you enter when signing up to an exchange that links your account to a referrer and can give you a discount or rebate on trading fees.
This entry is shown in English.
How Referral code works
Exchanges run referral and affiliate programs to attract users. When you register with a code, the referrer usually earns a share of the fees you pay, and in many programs part of that share is passed back to you as a fee discount, a rebate or a welcome reward. The exact split, duration and eligible products differ by exchange and by program.
A code must normally be entered at registration. On most exchanges it cannot be added later, so check before you create the account. Rebates may apply to spot, futures or both, may last for a limited period, and are often paid in a specific coin on a daily or weekly schedule.
Use codes only from sources you trust and register on the exchange's official website or app. A legitimate code never needs your password, seed phrase or API keys. A rebate lowers your trading cost, but it does not change the risk of the trades themselves.
Example
Suppose a futures taker fee is 0.05% and your referral code gives a 20% rebate on fees. You trade 200,000 USDT of futures volume in a month. Your fees total 200,000 times 0.0005, which is 100 USDT. A 20% rebate returns 20 USDT, so your effective fee is 80 USDT, or 0.04%. These figures are illustrative; actual rates and rebates depend on the exchange and the program.
Common mistakes
- Creating an account first and expecting to add a referral code later.
- Signing up through a lookalike site that copied a referral link.
- Trading more than planned just to earn a larger rebate.
Learn and practise
Try it on an exchange
OKX offers this. Sign up through our link and the code below is applied.
nexu888Open OKXFAQ
Can I add a referral code after registering?
On most exchanges, no. The code has to be entered during sign-up, though a few exchanges allow it within a short window afterwards.
How does a referral fee rebate work?
The exchange returns part of the trading fees you pay, usually as a percentage, credited to your account on a regular schedule.