What Is the OKX Unified Account? A Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering It

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The OKX Unified Account is revolutionizing the way traders manage digital assets across multiple product lines. Introduced in December 2020, this innovative system consolidates previously siloed trading functions into a single, efficient interface. Whether you're new to crypto or an experienced trader, understanding how the unified account works can significantly enhance your trading experience and capital efficiency.

At its core, the OKX Unified Account allows users to trade spot, margin, futures, and options within one account while enabling advanced features like cross-product margin sharing, real-time profit and loss offsetting, and higher fund utilization. This streamlined structure eliminates the need for separate accounts for different trading products—offering simplicity, flexibility, and smarter risk management.

Understanding the Four Account Modes

To accommodate diverse trading needs and risk profiles, OKX offers four distinct modes under the unified account framework: Spot Mode, Spot and Derivatives Mode, Cross-Currency Margin Mode, and Portfolio Margin Mode. Each mode unlocks different levels of functionality and capital efficiency.

1. Spot Mode

Ideal for beginners, Spot Mode provides a safe entry point into digital asset trading. In this mode, users can:

Notably, Spot Mode does not support leverage, margin trading, or derivative contracts such as perpetuals or deliverables. This intentional limitation protects novice traders from the risks associated with high-leverage products.

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Why Use Spot Mode?

Beginners benefit from reduced complexity and lower risk exposure. However, even within this conservative setup, strategic opportunities exist. For instance, investors can create a protective put strategy by holding spot assets while purchasing put options. This combination:

This hedging technique enhances risk control without requiring advanced trading tools—making it perfect for those building foundational knowledge.

2. Spot and Derivatives Mode

Designed for intermediate to experienced traders, this mode unlocks full access to five key trading services:

One of the biggest advantages? The ability to use cross-margin mode where positions settled in the same currency share a unified margin pool. Profits and losses offset in real time, improving capital efficiency.

Example: BTC/USDT Cross-Margin Efficiency

Imagine you’re:

If both positions are in the same settlement currency (BTC), they can share margin under the cross-margin full mode. Gains in one position can offset losses in another—delaying liquidation and maximizing usable funds.

⚠️ Important: When your margin ratio drops to ≤300%, a warning is triggered. At ≤100%, automatic deleveraging may occur.

For isolated positions, each trade maintains independent margin—just like traditional setups.

Activation Requirement: Complete a brief quiz in the account settings to unlock this mode.

Who Should Use It?

This mode strikes a balance between flexibility and control—perfect for those ready to go beyond basic spot trading.

3. Cross-Currency Margin Mode

This is where things get powerful. The Cross-Currency Margin Mode enables traders to use all supported assets as collateral, regardless of the underlying trading pair.

Instead of being limited to BTC as margin for BTC contracts, your entire portfolio—including ETH, LTC, and other major coins—is converted into USD value to serve as shared collateral.

Key Benefits:

Practical Use Case

You hold BTC, ETH, and LTC in your wallet. You open:

Under cross-currency margin mode, all three assets are valued in USD and pooled together as your margin base. Even if BTC drops temporarily, strong performance in ETH or LTC could prevent liquidation—thanks to shared risk absorption.

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Eligibility Requirements:

This mode appeals to professional traders, institutions, and API users who demand maximum flexibility and efficient use of capital.

4. Portfolio Margin Mode

The most advanced offering, Portfolio Margin Mode, leverages sophisticated risk modeling to calculate margin based on net exposure rather than gross positions.

It supports:

All within a single account, with dynamic margin calculations that consider offsetting positions.

How It Works

Using statistical models, OKX evaluates your entire portfolio’s risk profile. If you have:

These offsetting positions reduce net exposure—so your required margin is lower than if held separately.

Even more powerful: You can trade derivatives on assets you don’t directly hold. For example, holding only BTC allows you to trade ETHUSD perpetuals if your overall portfolio risk remains within acceptable bounds.

Additional perks:

Requirements:

Perfect for advanced traders employing hedging strategies, arbitrageurs, and institutional players focused on optimal capital allocation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I switch between account modes freely?
A: Yes. You can change modes anytime in your account settings. Note that switching may require meeting eligibility criteria (like $10K minimum for advanced modes).

Q: Is my profit settled instantly in the unified account?
A: Yes. One of the key advantages is real-time settlement—your realized profits are immediately available for reinvestment or withdrawal.

Q: Does Portfolio Margin reduce my liquidation risk?
A: Absolutely. By recognizing hedged positions and reducing required margin, it lowers overall volatility impact and delays liquidation triggers.

Q: Can I use API trading with all unified account modes?
A: Yes. All modes fully support API integration, making them ideal for algorithmic and high-frequency strategies.

Q: Are there any fees for using the unified account?
A: No additional fees apply just for using the unified account structure. Standard trading fees still apply based on your tier.

Q: How does cross-currency margin handle price volatility in collateral assets?
A: Assets are revalued in real time using current market rates. If a collateral coin drops sharply, your effective margin decreases—so monitoring health is crucial.

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The OKX Unified Account represents a major leap forward in digital asset trading infrastructure. By unifying spot, derivatives, and options under one roof—with intelligent margin sharing and real-time risk assessment—it empowers traders at every level to operate more efficiently and strategically.

Whether you're starting with simple spot trades or building complex hedged portfolios, the unified account adapts to your needs—offering safety for beginners and power for pros.

👉 Unlock advanced trading features and elevate your strategy now.