Can You Add a Referral Code After Signing Up? We Checked 21 Crypto Exchanges
By Alex Wu · Published · Updated
It is the most common question we get after "what is the code?": I already opened my account. Can I still add a referral code? The honest answer is "it depends on the exchange", and most guides skip the details. So we went through the official help pages and referral terms of all 21 crypto exchanges on TradeSavings and wrote down what each one actually allows.
Data checked: November 2026. Rules can change, so treat this as a starting point and check the exchange's own help page before you rely on it.
The short version
- 5 of 21 exchanges say you can add a code after sign-up: Bybit, MEXC, BingX, Crypto.com and BloFin. Every one of them has a limit, such as a time window, no deposit yet, or no inviter yet.
- On Binance it depends on the referral program mode. Binance has a binding page for accounts without a referral, but whether it applies to yours, and for how long, depends on the mode. Check the referral page in your account.
- 5 exchanges say it is not possible: OKX, LBank, Phemex, Bitunix and WhiteBIT. They only link a code when the account is created.
- 10 exchanges don't say either way. Check in your account settings or with support. If you haven't signed up yet, the safe move is to enter the code on the sign-up form.
Exchange by exchange
| Exchange | Add a code later? | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Bybit | Yes, with limits | Yes. Bybit lets you add an affiliate code within 14 days of signing up, on the main account only and only if no code is linked yet. Once added, it can't be changed. |
| MEXC | Yes, with limits | Yes. MEXC lets you link a referrer within 30 days of signing up, through Self-Service Referrer Linking in its Help Center. You can check the result under My Invites > My Referrer. |
| BingX | Yes, with limits | Yes, but only before your first deposit (a crypto transfer from another platform counts too), under Profile Settings > My Referrer. |
| Crypto.com | Yes, with limits | Yes, in the Crypto.com App: within 14 days of KYC approval and before your first trade, from the referral dashboard. |
| BloFin | Yes, with limits | Yes, but only if your BloFin account doesn't already have an inviter. BloFin doesn't give the exact menu path, so ask support if you can't find it. |
| Binance | Check on Binance | Check on Binance. Binance has a referral binding page for accounts that signed up without a code, but whether you can use it, and for how long, depends on which referral program mode applies to your account. Look at the referral page in your account before you deposit or trade. |
| OKX | No | No. OKX says a referral code can't be added or changed once the account has been created, so enter it on the sign-up form. |
| LBank | No | No. LBank says the referral code can't be added or changed after registration. |
| Phemex | No | No. Phemex says the referral relationship can't be added or changed once registration is complete. |
| Bitunix | No | No. Bitunix links the invitation code at registration and says the binding can't be changed afterwards. |
| WhiteBIT | No | No. WhiteBIT has no option to link a referral after sign-up; the code only counts when you register through it. |
| Bitget | Not stated | Bitget's referral page and affiliate FAQ don't describe a way to add a code later. Check in your account settings or with Bitget support. |
| KuCoin | Not stated | KuCoin's referral pages only describe the link being made when the account registers. Check in your account settings or with KuCoin support. |
| Gate.io | Not stated | Gate's referral program pages only describe linking at registration, through the link or the code. Check in your account settings or with Gate.io support. |
| HTX | Not stated | We could not find a rule for this on HTX's support pages. Check in your account settings or with HTX support. |
| CoinW | Not stated | CoinW's referral page doesn't say whether a code can be added once the account exists. Check in your account settings or with CoinW support. |
| Coinstore | Not stated | Coinstore's help centre explains how to check an invitation code, not whether one can be added later. Check in your account settings or with Coinstore support. |
| OurBit | Not stated | OurBit's affiliate agreement and help articles don't cover late codes. Check in your account settings or with OurBit support. |
| Toobit | Not stated | Toobit's invite-friends and registration help pages don't mention it. Check in your account settings or with Toobit support. |
| Weex | Not stated | The WEEX help pages we read don't cover adding a code after registration. Check in your account settings or with Weex support. |
| Hyperliquid | Not stated | Hyperliquid's docs say a code is entered on the Referrals page of the app, but they don't say whether that still works after you have traded. Check the Referrals page or ask Hyperliquid support, and enter the code before your first trade to be safe. |
The exchanges that allow it, and the catch
Bybit. Yes. Bybit lets you add an affiliate code within 14 days of signing up, on the main account only and only if no code is linked yet. Once added, it can't be changed. This is the change most guides miss: Bybit used to be listed as "no" almost everywhere, including on this site until November 2026.
MEXC. Yes. MEXC lets you link a referrer within 30 days of signing up, through Self-Service Referrer Linking in its Help Center. You can check the result under My Invites > My Referrer.
BingX. Yes, but only before your first deposit (a crypto transfer from another platform counts too), under Profile Settings > My Referrer.
Crypto.com. Yes, in the Crypto.com App: within 14 days of KYC approval and before your first trade, from the referral dashboard.
BloFin. Yes, but only if your BloFin account doesn't already have an inviter. BloFin doesn't give the exact menu path, so ask support if you can't find it.
Binance. Check on Binance. Binance has a referral binding page for accounts that signed up without a code, but whether you can use it, and for how long, depends on which referral program mode applies to your account. Look at the referral page in your account before you deposit or trade.
The pattern is clear: exchanges that allow a late code only do so while the account is new or still "empty". After the window closes, or after the first deposit or trade, the answer is almost always no.
What to do if you already have an account
- Check the window first. On Bybit, MEXC, BingX, Crypto.com and BloFin, look for the referral, affiliate or "My Referrer" page before you deposit anything. On Binance, check the referral page in your account.
- If the window has passed, ask support, but don't expect a change. Exchanges rarely move an existing account to a new referrer on request.
- Don't open duplicate accounts to get a discount. Most exchanges ban multiple accounts for the same person, and the referral terms usually void rewards for abuse.
If you are about to open an account, the simplest route is to enter the code on the sign-up form, or open the account through the referral link so the code is filled in for you. Each exchange page on TradeSavings shows the code and the sign-up steps, for example the Bybit referral code and the MEXC referral code. To see what a code is worth before you decide, read how much a referral code saves by volume.
Forex brokers work differently
Brokers such as Exness, XM, HFM, RoboForex and IC Markets link you to a partner when you register. Several of them let you open an extra trading account under a partner from your client area, or ask support, but none publishes a self-service "add code later" button. Register through the partner link to be sure.
How we collected the data
We read each exchange's official referral terms, help-centre articles and sign-up pages, and recorded whether a referral code can be added after registration and under what conditions. Where the official pages say nothing, we list the rule as "not stated" rather than guess. The same table feeds the FAQ on every exchange page on this site, so the answer is the same wherever you read it.
TradeSavings may earn a commission when you sign up with a code or link on this site, at no extra cost to you. Trading crypto, forex and CFDs, especially with leverage, carries a high risk of loss. This page is information, not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I add a Bybit referral code after signing up?
- Yes. Bybit lets you add an affiliate code within 14 days of signing up, on the main account only and only if no code is linked yet. Once added, it can't be changed.
- Can I add a Binance referral code after registration?
- Check on Binance. Binance has a referral binding page for accounts that signed up without a code, but whether you can use it, and for how long, depends on which referral program mode applies to your account. Look at the referral page in your account before you deposit or trade.
- Can I add or change my referral code on OKX?
- No. OKX says a referral code can't be added or changed once the account has been created, so enter it on the sign-up form.
- Can I add a MEXC referral code later?
- Yes. MEXC lets you link a referrer within 30 days of signing up, through Self-Service Referrer Linking in its Help Center. You can check the result under My Invites > My Referrer.
- What happens if I forgot to enter a referral code?
- It depends on the exchange. Bybit, MEXC, BingX, Crypto.com and BloFin allow it for a limited time or until the first deposit or trade. On Binance, check the referral page in your account. On OKX, LBank, Phemex, Bitunix and WhiteBIT it can't be added. Everywhere else, check in your account settings or with support.
- Is it allowed to open a second account to use a code?
- Usually not. Most exchanges allow one account per person and can cancel rewards or close accounts that break this rule.