Sub-account
Also called: subaccount · sub account
Definition
A sub-account is a separate account created under your main exchange account, with its own balances and positions, used to separate strategies, bots or team members.
How sub-account works
Most large exchanges let a verified main account create sub-accounts. Each has its own funds, orders and margin, so a liquidation in one does not touch the others. You can move funds between the main account and sub-accounts internally, usually without fees.
Common uses include keeping a long-term spot portfolio apart from futures trading, running different bots or API keys in separate accounts, giving a team member or fund manager limited access, and tracking performance per strategy. Some sub-accounts can be set to have no withdrawal rights, so the main account controls all transfers out.
Limits differ by exchange: the number of sub-accounts allowed, whether they share the main account's fee tier, and which products each type can access. Sub-accounts normally rely on the main account's KYC. Protect the main account with strong two-factor authentication, since it controls everything below it.
Example
Suppose you have 12,000 USDT. You keep 8,000 in the main account for spot holdings, move 3,000 into a futures sub-account and 1,000 into a grid bot sub-account. A bad leveraged trade wipes out the 3,000 USDT in the futures sub-account. Your main account still holds 8,000 and the bot sub-account 1,000, because the futures loss could not reach them. Without separation, a cross margin position could have drawn on all 12,000.
Common mistakes
- Giving withdrawal permission to API keys used by bots in a sub-account.
- Assuming sub-accounts need separate KYC or a separate login method.
- Forgetting balances spread across sub-accounts when checking total exposure.
FAQ
Why use a sub-account on a crypto exchange?
To separate strategies, limit risk, run bots with dedicated API keys, or let others trade without access to your main funds.
Do sub-accounts share the same trading fee level?
On many exchanges they share the main account's fee tier and volume, but rules differ, so check the fee page of your exchange.