01OKX review at a glance
OKX (欧易 to Chinese speakers) is one of the best-known exchanges in the Chinese-speaking world. Its strengths are a tidy pro interface, a full kit of spot and derivatives tools, and a built-in self-custody Web3 wallet. The question readers ask most often, though, is more basic: can I actually use it where I live?
OKX at a glance
- Spot fees (global)
- about 0.08% / 0.10% base tier
- Card purchases
- via third parties, roughly 1.5%–4%
- P2P
- yes (not in every market)
- Licensed Asian entities
- OKJ (Japan) · OKX SG · OKX Middle East (Dubai)
- Not available
- Hong Kong · Thailand · Philippines · mainland China
- Self-custody wallet
- OKX Wallet, 100+ chains
- Reserves
- publishes Merkle-tree proof of reserves
- United States
- ~$505M DOJ settlement, Feb 2025
Our overall view: if you live in Singapore, Japan or the UAE, OKX's local entity is a licensed option worth serious consideration, and OKX SG's Singapore-dollar on-ramp is among the best in the city. If you are in Hong Kong, Thailand or the Philippines, the exchange is closed to you and only the wallet remains relevant. Most other markets sit in the "reachable but unlicensed" grey zone.
02OKX licences and blocks across Asia
| Market | OKX status | Regulator | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | OKJ (formerly OKCoin Japan) registered, Kanto 00020 | JFSA | Global OKX does not serve Japan; OKJ lists 54 coins with free yen deposits. Japan guide |
| Singapore | OKX SG holds a Major Payment Institution licence | MAS | Free instant PayNow and FAST via DBS; Singpass onboarding. Singapore guide |
| UAE | OKX Middle East Fintech FZE, VARA licence VL/23/12/003 | VARA | AED bank transfers |
| Hong Kong | VATP application withdrawn 24 May 2024; HK listed as a restricted location | SFC | Exchange and P2P unavailable; OKX Wallet still works. Hong Kong guide |
| Thailand | Thai SEC criminal complaint against the operator and 9 promoters, 27 Mar 2025; blocked from 28 Jun 2025 | Thai SEC | Residents should use SEC-licensed platforms. Thailand guide |
| Philippines | Named unregistered by the SEC in Aug 2025, then blocked under the NTC order of Dec 2025 | SEC / NTC | Use BSP-registered local platforms |
| India | Not registered with FIU-IND; app absent from Google Play India; reportedly exited in 2024 | FIU-IND | Use registered platforms |
| Indonesia | Among 228 platforms halted by OJK and Satgas PASTI | OJK | Unlicensed and liable to blocking |
| South Korea | Not registered; OKX Ventures owns 20% of local exchange Coinone | KoFIU | Whitelisted for Upbit transfers, but KRW deposits only via local exchanges |
| Taiwan | Not registered with the FSC; app still downloadable | FSC | No Taiwanese legal protection |
| Malaysia | Not registered | SC | Not supervised by the Securities Commission |
| Pakistan | Reportedly applied to PVARA (unconfirmed) | PVARA | Licensing only began in 2026 |
| Vietnam | Unlicensed; OKX Ventures invested in licence applicant CAEX | MoF | Trading outside licensed providers fineable since Sep 2026 |
| Mainland China | Exited mainland users in 2021 | PBoC | Crypto trading services are illegal. China rules |
Thailand deserves a second look. The Thai SEC did not just block OKX; it filed criminal complaints against nine individuals who promoted it on YouTube, Facebook and Discord. In parts of Asia, "unlicensed" is not a technicality. We do not offer ways around regional restrictions; in these markets, start with how to check an exchange's licence.
03The US DOJ settlement
In February 2025 OKX settled with the US Department of Justice for about $505 million, and in April 2025 it relaunched services in the United States. As with Binance's 2023 case, this shows real past compliance gaps — and helps explain the recent push for licences in Singapore, Dubai and Europe.
04OKX fees
Global OKX charges about 0.08% maker and 0.10% taker at the base tier, falling with volume and OKB holdings — the same league as Binance. Card purchases are routed through third-party providers at roughly 1.5% to 4%, a wide range, so judge by the final coin amount on the confirmation screen. Local entities price differently:
OKJ's yen deposits are free and its published level-1 rate is 0.07% maker / 0.14% taker, falling to 0.02% / 0.06% at the top. Like most Japanese exchanges it also runs a simple "convert" desk where the cost hides in the spread, so use the order book when you can. In Singapore, OKX SG offers free, instant PayNow and FAST deposits and withdrawals through DBS — one of the cheapest SGD rails available. For the wider picture see our exchange fee comparison.
05Buying crypto on OKX
- Work out which OKX you can use
OKX SG in Singapore, OKJ in Japan, OKX Middle East in the UAE. Hong Kong, Thailand, the Philippines and mainland China are off-limits. Give your real country of residence.
- Register and complete KYC
Upload an ID and a selfie; Singapore residents can verify quickly with Singpass.
- Fund the account
Singapore: PayNow / FAST. Japan: yen bank transfer. UAE: dirham bank transfer. Elsewhere: third-party card or P2P.
- Buy
Beginners can use quick buy / convert; a spot limit order saves on spread.
- Secure it
Enable authenticator 2FA and withdrawal whitelisting; move coins you want to control yourself to OKX Wallet or a hardware wallet.
OKX not available where you live, or just want a quick card purchase? A dedicated card-purchase platform is another route.For supported countries · Visa / Mastercard / Apple Pay
Buy with card06OKX Wallet: its strongest product
OKX Wallet is a self-custody multi-chain wallet covering 100+ chains, kept separate from the exchange account. You hold the keys, there is no KYC, and it connects to decentralised exchanges, NFT marketplaces and other on-chain apps. It is widely used in Chinese-speaking markets and Southeast Asia alongside MetaMask and Trust Wallet.
One important nuance: in places such as Hong Kong, where the OKX exchange does not operate, OKX Wallet still works as software because it never holds your assets. That also puts the whole responsibility on you — a lost or leaked seed phrase cannot be recovered by anyone. Backup habits and common scams are covered in our crypto security guide; see best crypto wallets for comparisons.
07Website and app UX
Using our methodology we reviewed the global website, the OKX app and OKX Wallet separately. Our overall impression: OKX is one of very few exchanges that manages to be both professional and uncluttered.
OKX websiteokx.com ↗
A clean pro layout with clearly separated chart, depth and order panels; sub-accounts and strategy trading for advanced users.
OKX appokx.com ↗
Exchange and wallet switch with one tap and the experience is smooth, but beginners can confuse exchange balances with wallet balances.
OKX Walletokx.com ↗
Multi-chain balances on one screen, built-in cross-chain swaps and a dApp browser; pre-signing risk warnings are clearer than most.
OKJ's app is a separate Japanese product, trimmed to fit Japanese rules, and its Japanese App Store rating (around 3.6 from relatively few ratings) trails the global app. OKX SG keeps most of the global experience.
08Security and proof of reserves
After FTX, OKX was among the first exchanges to publish regular Merkle-tree proof-of-reserves reports that let users check their own balance is counted. A reserve report reflects assets at a moment in time and is not an audited solvency statement, but it beats publishing nothing. Account tools include authenticator 2FA, withdrawal whitelisting and anti-phishing codes. In Singapore, OKX is one of the digital payment token providers working with the Singapore Police Force's cybercrime command on tracing scam funds.
09Who OKX suits
Good fit: Singapore residents (free PayNow deposits at OKX SG); Japan residents (OKJ, registered); UAE residents; intermediate users who want a strong pro interface or strategy tools; and anyone looking for a capable multi-chain self-custody wallet.
Poor fit: residents of Hong Kong, Thailand, the Philippines, mainland China and India, where the exchange is unavailable or unregistered; beginners who just want a small card purchase, since third-party card routes are pricier and less transparent; and anyone unclear on leverage risk — read spot vs futures first.
10Pros, cons and verdict
Pros
- Clean pro interface with a full advanced toolkit
- OKX Wallet: 100+ chains and an excellent self-custody experience
- Licensed entities: OKJ (Japan), MAS (Singapore), VARA (Dubai)
- Base spot fees about 0.08% / 0.10%; free SGD rails at OKX SG
- Regular Merkle-tree proof of reserves
Cons
- Withdrew from Hong Kong; blocked in Thailand and the Philippines; unregistered in India
- ~$505M settlement with the US DOJ in 2025
- Card purchases rely on third parties at 1.5%–4%, with wide variation
- Exchange and wallet balances share one app, which confuses newcomers
- OKJ in Japan has fewer coins and features
Our verdict
OKX offers one of the best exchange experiences around, and OKX Wallet leads its class. In Singapore, Japan and the UAE its licensed entities deserve a place on your shortlist; in Hong Kong, Thailand and the Philippines the exchange is not open to you. Great design still has to pass the first test: is it legal where you live?
11Alternatives to OKX
- Editor's pick for card purchases
CEX.IOfounded 2013 · card purchases
A short card checkout with published fees; a quick on-ramp in supported markets such as Hong Kong, Taiwan and Thailand. No Asian licence; does not serve Japan, Singapore or India.
- Card 0.49%–4.99% + service
- Spot 0.15% / 0.25%
-
Binancelargest by volume
Unmatched coins and liquidity; licensed local entities in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and the UAE; blocked in the Philippines, out of Singapore.
- Spot 0.10% / 0.10%
- Zero-fee P2P for takers
-
BybitDubai HQ
Licensed in the UAE with a Kazakhstan entity; unavailable in Japan, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia.
- Spot about 0.10% / 0.10%
- Derivatives-led
Singapore readers can also compare Coinbase and Crypto.com, both MAS-licensed there; Hong Kong readers should go straight to Hong Kong's licensed platforms. For more options see our exchange rankings and trading platform comparison.
FAQ
Where is OKX licensed in Asia?
As of October 2026, OKX operates in Japan through OKJ (formerly OKCoin Japan, JFSA-registered as Kanto 00020), in Singapore through OKX SG with a MAS Major Payment Institution licence, and in Dubai through OKX Middle East Fintech FZE under VARA licence VL/23/12/003. It withdrew its Hong Kong application in 2024, is blocked in Thailand and the Philippines, and is not registered in India.
Can I use OKX in Hong Kong?
Not the exchange. OKX withdrew its Hong Kong virtual-asset trading platform application on 24 May 2024, and Hong Kong is a "Restricted Location" in OKX's Risk & Compliance Disclosure, so OKX P2P is closed there too. The self-custody OKX Wallet still works because it does not hold your funds. Hong Kong residents should buy through SFC-licensed platforms.
What are OKX fees?
On the global platform, base-tier spot fees are about 0.08% maker and 0.10% taker, falling with volume and OKB holdings. Card purchases go through third-party providers at roughly 1.5% to 4%. Local entities differ: OKJ in Japan charges 0.07% maker and 0.14% taker at its first tier. Check the official fee page and your order confirmation.
What is the difference between OKX Wallet and an OKX account?
An OKX exchange account is custodial: OKX holds the assets and KYC is required. OKX Wallet is self-custody: you hold the keys (seed phrase), it supports 100+ chains and connects to decentralised apps. Both live in the same app, but assets and responsibility are separate — if you lose the wallet's seed phrase, OKX cannot recover it.
Sources
- OKX — Risk & Compliance Disclosure (restricted locations) · checked Oct 2026
- Japan FSA — crypto-asset exchange service providers · checked Oct 2026
- OKJ — official site · checked Oct 2026
- MAS — Financial Institutions Directory · checked Oct 2026
- VARA — Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority · checked Oct 2026
- Hong Kong SFC — lists of virtual asset trading platforms · checked Oct 2026
- Thai SEC — digital asset business licence check · checked Oct 2026
Just want a small card purchase?
In supported countries you can buy Bitcoin, Ether or USDT with Visa, Mastercard or Apple Pay in minutes. Check first that the platform serves where you live.
International licensed platform · operating since 2013 · Visa / Mastercard / Apple Pay