When many beginners prepare to register an account on the Binance Official Website or open the Binance Official App and fill in their email (Apple users installing the App can refer to the iOS Installation Guide), they often encounter a "Referral ID (Optional)" input box and wonder whether it should be filled. The direct answer is: The Binance referral code is Binance's official user acquisition and commission rebate mechanism. After a new user enters someone else's referral code during registration, a certain percentage of the trading fees for every subsequent transaction will be rebated. The kickback rate ranges from 10% up to 40%, and it takes effect permanently after being entered once. Omitting it simply results in a missed opportunity to save on costs.
What is a Binance Referral Code?
A Referral Code (or Referral ID) is a unique promotional identifier assigned by Binance to every registered user, typically a string of 6-10 alphanumeric characters (e.g., "ABCD12").
When New User A enters the referral code of Existing User B during registration:
- New User A becomes a referral of User B.
- A portion of the trading fees for all of User A's subsequent transactions will be returned to User A and User B according to a pre-agreed ratio.
- The rebate is distributed by Binance from the platform's fee revenue, not deducted from User A's account balance.
- Whether User A receives a share and the specific percentage depends on the kickback ratio configured by User B.
In short: Binance allocates a portion of its trading fees to incentivize existing users to invite new ones. For a new user, entering a code to receive rebates is an entirely cost-free benefit.
Direct Benefits of Entering a Referral Code
1. Trading Fee Discounts (Actual Rebates)
- Spot Trading: 10%-20% of the fee for each transaction is automatically returned to your account.
- Futures Trading: 10%-40% of the fee for each transaction is returned.
- Applicable to both USDⓈ-M and COIN-M futures.
For instance, if your monthly trading volume on Binance is 100,000 USDT, based on the 0.1% spot fee rate, the standard fee would be 100 USDT. By using a 20% kickback code, you directly save 20 USDT every month, equating to 240 USDT saved annually. The larger the trading volume, the more you save.
2. Access to Exclusive Campaigns
Some referral links are also tied to official Binance campaigns, such as:
- New User Registration Welcome Bonus (e.g., 5-100 USDT equivalent, requires KYC completion).
- First Deposit Rewards (bonus upon reaching a deposit threshold).
- Trading Task Rewards (receiving tokens after completing specified trading volumes).
These campaigns are initiated by Binance officially, and the referral code simply acts as the entry point.
3. Lifetime Binding, Permanent Rebates
Entering the code is a one-time action that remains permanently effective. Even if you continue using the account a decade later, the fee kickback will still apply. If you do not enter it during registration, it can never be added retroactively.
What is the Maximum Binance Rebate Limit?
Rebate percentages are regulated by official Binance policies; they are not arbitrarily set:
Spot Trading Rebate Limits
- Direct Referrals: Up to 20%
- Sub-referrals: Up to 5% (Applicable to VIP affiliates)
Futures Trading Rebate Limits
- Standard Users: Up to 40%
- Affiliates/Institutions: Can be higher (requires application)
The kickback ratio for most publicly available referral codes is between 10% and 20%. Higher percentages are typically reserved for affiliates or KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders). As a new user, securing a rate of 10% or higher is already highly advantageous.
How to Enter the Referral Code
Entering During Web Registration
On the Binance registration page (accounts.binance.com/register), after entering your email and password, scroll down to find a collapsible "Referral ID (Optional)" input box. Expand it and paste the referral code. A green text prompt stating "Referral code is valid" will appear directly below it. Confirm this and proceed with the registration.
Entering During App Registration
Open the Binance App, tap "Sign Up" → enter your email/phone number → locate the "Referral ID" or "Referral Code" field at the bottom (some versions require tapping "More Options" to expand). Enter the code, and the system will verify it automatically.
Can It Be Added After Registration is Complete?
No. This is a strict rule enforced by Binance: The referral code can only be entered during the initial registration process and cannot be added retrospectively once the account is created. If you forget to enter it, the only remedy is to delete the account and re-register (which involves a 90-day waiting period for the same ID document), which is highly inconvenient.
Therefore, it is crucial to secure a reliable referral code before initiating registration.
How to Verify the Authenticity of a Referral Code
Any official Binance referral code can be verified within the Binance system. Upon entry, a green checkmark and the prompt "Referral code is valid" will appear. Methods to identify authenticity include:
1. Check the Prompt After Entry
A code is genuine if it immediately displays the green "valid" text upon entry; it is fake if it displays red "invalid" text or shows no prompt at all.
2. Confirm the Kickback Ratio
A legitimate referral code will explicitly state the kickback ratio on the registration link or dedicated landing page, such as "Get 20% kickback." The ratio cannot exceed the official limits (20% for spot, 40% for futures).
3. The Link Domain Must Be binance.com
When clicking a referral link shared by others, ensure the destination domain is binance.com (or official short links like binance.onelink.me). Any "referral" from other domains is a phishing site.
The Difference Between Referral Codes and KOL "Exclusive Links"
You might encounter bloggers claiming to have "exclusive campaign links." The underlying mechanism of these links is still the Binance referral code, but they are packaged with exclusive benefits, such as:
- High kickback ratios (20%-40%)
- Exclusive Mystery Boxes/Draws
- VIP Discount Codes
- Airdrop Allocations
As long as the final landing page is binance.com, these links are secure. The specific exclusive benefits depend on the cooperation agreement between the KOL and Binance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Will entering a referral code make my trading fees more expensive?
A: Absolutely not. The referral mechanism works by "charging the standard fee rate normally, and Binance returning a portion of it to you." You still pay the standard 0.1% spot fee rate or the 0.075% rate after BNB deduction. The kickback is an additional benefit and does not increase the price.
Q2: Are rebates credited in real-time or settled at the end of the month?
A: They are typically automatically credited to your Binance account (Spot Wallet) on a T+1 basis (the next day). You can check the exact rebate amount corresponding to each transaction in the "Referral Center" or "Rebate History," which is highly transparent.
Q3: Does the referral code permanently bind me to a specific inviter?
A: Yes. Once you enter someone's referral code, this relationship is permanent and cannot be changed. If you wish to become a promoter later, you can generate your own referral code using your account to share with others; this is unaffected by your own invited status.
Q4: I have already registered on Binance but didn't enter a code. Can I still save on fees?
A: Existing accounts cannot retroactively add a code. However, you can enable BNB fee deduction (a 25% discount) or upgrade your VIP tier (which upgrades automatically as trading volume increases). These two methods are cumulative with referral codes. By combining BNB deduction and VIP upgrades, older accounts can still effectively reduce their fee costs.