When registering for Binance, you'll notice a "Referral Code" or "Referral ID" input field. Many people don't know where this code comes from, what it does, or what happens if they skip it. Even more commonly, people don't even notice the field during signup and only think about it afterward. This article clears up everything you need to know about referral codes.
What Is a Referral Code?
A Binance referral code is a string of letters or numbers. Every registered user can generate their own referral code to share with others. When a new user enters this code during registration, both parties receive a trading fee rebate.
It's essentially a referral reward system — existing users bring in new ones, and the platform gives both sides a benefit.
Where to Enter the Referral Code
On the Web During Registration
After going to the Binance official site and reaching the registration page, you'll find a "Referral ID (Optional)" input field below the email/phone and password fields. If you register through the link above, the referral code is automatically filled in — no manual entry needed.
If the code doesn't appear automatically, click the text link below the registration form that says something like "Have a Referral ID?" to expand the input field.
In the App During Registration
After downloading the Binance App and opening the registration page, you'll find a referral code field below the password field. Apps installed through the link above will have the referral code pre-filled.
Important Notes
- The referral code can only be entered during registration — it cannot be added afterward
- Each account can use only one referral code, and it cannot be changed
- The referral code is not case-sensitive
What You Get from Using a Referral Code
After registering with a referral code, you receive a trading fee discount or cashback. The exact percentage depends on the referral code settings. Typical benefits include:
- Up to 20% cashback on spot trading fees
- The percentage may be higher if the referrer holds a certain amount of BNB
Here's a concrete example: if a trade generates 10 USDT in fees and you have a 20% rebate, you'd receive 2 USDT back. It may not seem like much, but for active traders, it adds up significantly over time.
For instance, if your total monthly trading fees are 500 USDT, a 20% rebate saves you 100 USDT. That's 1,200 USDT per year — a substantial amount.
Registered Without a Referral Code — Now What?
This is the most common question, and unfortunately, referral codes cannot be added after registration. If you've already signed up without one, here are some alternatives for reducing fees:
Option 1: Use BNB to Pay Trading Fees
In Binance settings, enable "Use BNB for Fee Deduction." This gives you a 25% discount on spot trading fees (reducing the default 0.1% to 0.075%). You'll need to hold some BNB in your account.
How to enable: Open the App → tap user icon → Fee Rate → enable BNB deduction.
Option 2: Increase Your VIP Level
Higher VIP tiers on Binance mean lower fees. VIP levels are based on your 30-day trading volume and BNB holdings. For regular users, even VIP 1 provides a noticeable fee reduction.
Option 3: Re-register (Extreme Option)
If you just registered and haven't deposited or traded yet, you could create a new account with a different email (note: one person can only have one KYC-verified account, so the old one needs to be deleted). This isn't recommended if you already have trading history or funds in the account.
Referral Code vs. Referral Link
You may have seen two formats:
Referral code: A string of characters like ABC123 that you manually enter in the registration form.
Referral link: A full URL that takes you directly to the registration page with the code pre-filled.
Both have the same effect — they just work differently. Referral links are more convenient and less error-prone. The registration link at the beginning of this article is in referral link format.
More About Trading Fees
Since we're discussing referral codes and fees, let's take a closer look at Binance's fee structure.
Spot Trading Fees
Binance's default spot trading fee is 0.1% (charged on both buys and sells). So if you buy 1,000 USDT worth of Bitcoin, the fee is 1 USDT.
Fee optimization stacking:
- Referral code rebate: -20%
- BNB deduction: -25%
- These can be combined
After stacking, your effective rate drops to roughly 0.06% — a significant reduction from the default 0.1%.
Futures Trading Fees
Futures fees are split between Maker (limit orders) and Taker (market orders):
- Maker: 0.02%
- Taker: 0.05%
These can also be reduced through BNB deduction and VIP tiers.
How to Check If You Used a Referral Code
After logging in, go to the "Referral" page (in the navigation bar on web, or under "More" in the app) to view your referral relationships. If you entered a referral code during registration, your referrer's information will appear here. If it's empty, you didn't use one.
How to Generate Your Own Referral Code
After registration, you can create your own referral code to share with friends. On the "Referral" page, you'll find your unique referral code and referral link. You can also set the commission-sharing ratio — the more you share with the referee, the more likely people are to use your code.
The total commission between referrer and referee is capped at the platform's maximum. As a referrer, holding 500 BNB or more allows you to set a higher total commission rate.
Summary
While the referral code is technically "optional," it's genuinely worth filling in during registration. The fee savings are real money. If you haven't signed up for Binance yet, using the link provided in this article is the easiest way — the referral code is automatically applied, fee discounts take effect immediately, and you don't need to do anything extra.