Bybit vs OKX

Bybit and OKX charge almost the same entry-level futures fees, so the real differences are product range, access and history. Bybit leans into derivatives and runs a busy campaign calendar, now including stock-linked perpetuals and options. OKX pairs its exchange with a self-custody wallet and serves more countries through separate regional companies, including a US platform.

The Short Version

• Fees: both charge 0.02% maker on futures. Taker is 0.055% on Bybit and 0.05% on OKX.
• Liquidity: at the time of writing (11 October 2026), Bybit holds more derivatives open interest, while OKX traded more derivatives volume over 24 hours.
• Campaigns: we list five live Bybit campaigns and one standing OKX program.
• Access: neither global site serves the United States. OKX runs a separate US platform.
• Record: Bybit lost about $1.5 billion to hackers in February 2025. OKX's offshore operator pleaded guilty in the US that same month.

Fees

Our venue data, checked today, lists Bybit's VIP 0 perpetual and futures rate at 0.02% maker and 0.055% taker, from its fee structure page. Bybit notes that rates may vary by region. OKX's regular-user futures rate on its global fee page is 0.02% maker and 0.05% taker, and regional sites such as OKX UAE charge different rates.

On a $10,000 market order, that is $5.50 in taker fees on Bybit and $5.00 on OKX. Limit orders that rest on the book cost $2.00 on either. Both publish tiered schedules for higher-volume accounts. Spot fees and funding rates are separate, so check both pages for the product you plan to use.

What You Can Trade

Both are crypto-first. Bybit's profile in our data covers crypto, stocks, options and event-style markets. Its current campaigns show TradFi perpetuals on shares such as Micron, options on stocks such as TSLA and NVDA, and ByPick, a points-based prediction game. CoinGecko counts 886 perpetual pairs on Bybit at the time of writing.

OKX's profile covers crypto and event contracts. Alongside the exchange it offers an on-chain wallet and DEX aggregator, which suits people who move between centralised and on-chain trading. CoinGecko counts 501 perpetual pairs on OKX.

Liquidity and Volume

At the time of writing (11 October 2026), the CoinGecko figures in our table show:

• Bybit derivatives: $14.0 billion open interest and $5.10 billion 24-hour volume.
• OKX derivatives: $7.90 billion open interest and $7.92 billion 24-hour volume.
• Spot, 24 hours: OKX $880 million, Bybit $769 million.

Open interest is money held in open positions. Volume is turnover. OKX's volume is close to its open interest, so positions there turn over faster, while Bybit holds more money in positions that stay open. Neither number tells you how deep the book is on the pair you trade. Our guide on how to read trading volume and open interest explains why.

Campaigns and Rewards

Bybit campaigns live in our calendar:

• Stock Buzz: Trade Micron: up to 100,000 USDT, ends 14 October.
• Wall Street Blue-Chip Options Challenge: 70,000 USDT, ends 27 October.
• ByPick Season 1: 100,000 USDT, ends 31 October.
• KII Alpha Token Splash: 2,000,000 KII, 8 to 21 October.
• Mantle (MNT) Puzzle Hunt: 200,000 USDT, ends 31 October.

OKX runs the Event Contract Liquidity Rewards Program, worth up to 48,000 USDT a month for market makers since 1 October. Its last competition in our data, the Arc Chain Trading Competition, ended on 23 September.

Standing rewards: Bybit's Rewards Hub holds task rewards such as bonuses, coupons and fee discounts, and unused bonuses expire. OKX's referral program pays crypto rewards when people you refer trade. Before you join anything, read how to check a trading campaign.

Who Can Use It

Bybit's restricted countries list includes the United States, mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Syria, Sudan, Uzbekistan, Dubai and Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine. Bybit EU holds a MiCA licence from Austria's regulator (Cointelegraph). Bybit returned to the UK in December 2025 with spot and P2P only, through FCA-authorised Archax (Crowdfund Insider). Identity verification has been mandatory for all Bybit products since May 2023 (The Block).

OKX's terms of service, updated 17 September 2026, place users with regional companies in the EEA, US, UAE, Australia and Brazil, and with Seychelles-based Aux Cayes FinTech elsewhere. Its compliance disclosure fully restricts Canada, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia and sanctioned regions, and limits derivatives in the UK, Australia, Brazil and South Korea. OKX Europe holds a MiCA licence from Malta's regulator (Cointelegraph).

Track Record and Safety

Bybit launched in 2018. On 21 February 2025, attackers took close to $1.5 billion in ether from a Bybit cold wallet, and the FBI attributed the theft to North Korea (BleepingComputer). Bybit's CEO later said the ether shortfall had been closed (The Block). Bybit publishes proof of reserves that users can check with a Merkle tree (The Block).

OKX launched in 2017. In February 2025, Aux Cayes FinTech pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business in the US and agreed to pay about $505 million (SCMP). It relaunched in the US in April 2025 (Fortune). Its 47th monthly proof of reserves report, for September 2026, shows a 109% bitcoin reserve ratio, verified with zk-STARK proofs.

Which to Choose

Choose Bybit if you trade derivatives heavily, want stock-linked perpetuals or options, or like to join several campaigns at once.

Choose OKX if you want slightly lower base taker fees, use an on-chain wallet alongside the exchange, or live where OKX runs a local entity, such as the US.

Questions People Ask

Which is cheaper for futures?

At base rates, OKX's taker fee is 0.005 percentage points lower. Maker fees are the same. For most traders the difference only matters at high volume.

Can I use Bybit or OKX in the US?

Bybit's global platform does not serve US users. OKX serves US customers through OKX Inc., a separate Delaware company, under its own terms.

Did the 2025 hack change Bybit's reserves?

Bybit's CEO said the ether gap was closed, and on-chain data showed it was filled with loans, large deposits and purchases (Decrypt). You can check Bybit's current proof of reserves yourself.

Where can I see more exchange campaigns?

Our trading competitions page and crypto exchanges hub list them. You can also compare venues in the crypto exchange rankings or open the Bybit and OKX profiles.

This comparison is information, not financial advice. Trading carries risk, and fees and terms change: check each venue's own pages before you trade.