How to open a Binance account — from sign-up to a working referral rebate

If you've searched "how to create a Binance account" and you're still not sure where the referral code goes, whether you have to verify your ID, or how the fee savings actually kick in, here's the whole path in one place. This isn't a piece about one narrow trick — it's the full run, from opening the sign-up page to seeing the first rebate land in your wallet. Six steps, in order, and each one matters for a different reason.

Two notes before we start. First, the exact screens follow whatever Binance's official pages show right now (last checked in September 2026), so treat the layout below as the shape of the flow rather than a pixel-perfect map. Second, every discount and rebate figure here is a range or ballpark — the real number is what your account displays. If you only want the "attach a code" mechanics without the identity and region parts, that's covered separately in binding a referral code at sign-up; this page is the complete beginner walkthrough.

1. Open the sign-up page through the referral link

The first step decides whether the rebate ever gets attached, so it's worth doing deliberately. Instead of navigating to Binance's homepage and hunting for "Register," open the sign-up page through a referral link. A referral link carries a code in its address, and entering the flow this way is what tells Binance to associate your new account with that referral relationship. Land on the generic homepage first and the code step after account creation can come up empty — then it's on you to remember to fill it in.

Think of the link as the entry point for the rebate. Everything after it — email, password, verification — is the same account you'd create anyway; the link is simply the doorway that carries the code in with you. Here's the direct one for this guide:

2. Enter email or phone and set a strong password

The code step only appears once the account exists, so first comes the ordinary account-creation part. Binance typically lets you register with either an email address or a phone number — pick whichever you'll reliably keep access to, since it becomes your login and your recovery route.

• Enter your email or phone, then set a password. A strong password here is worth the extra few seconds: a decent length, mixing letters, numbers and symbols, and not reused from another site.
• Verify the contact. Binance sends a verification code to the email or phone you gave; enter it to confirm the address is yours. If it doesn't arrive, check spam or request it again after a moment.
• Set up two-factor authentication when prompted. An authenticator app or SMS 2FA is a meaningful layer of security on an account that will hold funds — turn it on rather than putting it off.

Once the contact is verified and the password is set, the account exists and the referral code step comes up. What it can do, though, is still limited until identity verification.

3. Confirm the referral code (BN6987) carried over

This is the step that quietly decides whether you get the rebate at all, and it's the one beginners skip most often. The sign-up form itself has no code field; now that the account is created, a separate step shows the "Referral code" or "Referral ID" box already filled in — because you came in through the link, in this case with BN6987 — with a green tick and “Bound” next to it. Your only job is to glance at it and confirm the code shown is the right one before you move on.

Depending on the current layout, that step can look one of a few ways:

• Pre-filled, with a green tick and “Bound”. If it's there and reads BN6987, you're set — nothing to type.
• Showing as invalid, or not the code you expected. Until it binds you can still change it — correct it there and carry on; once it reads “Bound” it can no longer be edited, so do not leave that step with the wrong code.
• Empty, if you didn't enter through the link. If that step comes up blank, type BN6987 in yourself rather than tapping skip. Entering through the direct link above is the surest way to avoid this.

4. Identity verification (KYC) and region limits

Most people expect to trade the moment the account is created, but a new Binance account generally needs identity verification (KYC) before you can use its full range of features. This isn't an optional hoop — it's a standard requirement on regulated exchanges, and it's how the platform meets anti-money-laundering rules. Skipping it usually means low limits or blocked features.

What you'll typically be asked for follows Binance's current page, but it's broadly:

• A government-issued ID — a passport, national ID card or driver's licence, depending on what your country supports.
• A face / liveness check — a quick camera step to confirm the person matches the document. Good lighting and a steady shot save a re-take.
• Basic personal details — name, date of birth and similar, matching your document.

Once verification is submitted, it goes to review. How long that takes varies with demand and with your particular case, so treat any single number as a rough expectation rather than a promise — the status shown in your account is the reliable signal that you're cleared to move on.

5. Turn on the BNB fee discount

Here's where the second half of "paying less" comes in. The referral code you attached at sign-up is one lever; the BNB fee discount is a separate one, and after your account is set up it's worth switching on. When it's enabled, fees for eligible trades are paid using BNB and charged at a reduced rate — around a 25% cut on the spot tier, per Binance's official page.

Two things to line up:

• There has to be BNB in the account. The discount only draws on BNB you actually hold — with a zero balance, the switch has nothing to work with. You don't need a large amount; enough to cover fees is the idea.
• Turn the toggle on. In account or fee settings there's an option along the lines of "Pay fees with BNB." Switch it on and eligible trades start using the discounted path automatically.

The full mechanics — which products it covers, how the rate is applied, and the common reasons it appears not to work — are in the complete BNB discount guide. The key point for a beginner is that this discount and the referral rebate are two different switches, and they generally stack.

6. Check the discount and the rebate are both working

The last step is confirmation — not assuming, but checking that both levers are doing their job. Three things to look at:

• Your fee rate. Binance's account or fee page shows your current spot maker / taker rate. That figure depends on your VIP tier and whether you pay with BNB; binding a referral code will not make it any smaller, so this is not where the rebate shows up.
• What a trade actually deducts. After a trade, your trade history or account statement shows the fee taken on it. That deducted figure, and whether it was paid in BNB, is how you confirm the BNB discount. The referral rebate never shows up in that number. How to read and export it is in how to check your real fees.
• Rebate entries in your wallet. Per Binance's help centre, the referral rebate is worked out hourly, converted to USDC and paid into your spot wallet within six hours. A few hours after your first trade, filter your wallet history for rebate or commission entries; one small credit there means the link works.

What the savings look like on a real trade

Rates in the abstract don't land, so here's an example (assumed figures for illustration only; actuals per Binance's page): say you're a new VIP0 user placing a $10,000 spot taker trade, with both switches on.

So with both the referral rebate and the BNB discount working together, the same trade can land at around six-tenths of the sticker price. The more often and the larger you trade, the more that gap compounds — which is exactly why wiring both in at sign-up is worth the few extra minutes. To run it on your own numbers, drop them into the cost stacking comparator, and for the fee structure behind it all, see the complete fee guide.

FAQ

Can I add a referral code after I've already signed up?

The code step right after the account is created is the one moment with no conditions attached. If you have moved past it, you can still bind one within 30 days of sign-up as long as the account has no deposits or trades and meets Binance's other conditions, so check before your first deposit. More in how the referral rebate works.

How long does KYC take?

Often it's reviewed fairly quickly once you submit a clear document and pass the face check, but the exact time varies with demand and your case. Treat any single number as a rough expectation; the status in your account is the reliable one.

Which regions can't use Binance.com?

Availability differs by country and changes over time. Binance.com is restricted for users in the United States, and other jurisdictions have their own limits. Confirm availability on the official pages before signing up, and don't use a VPN or false details to get around a restriction.

Do the BNB discount and the referral rebate stack?

Usually yes. One lowers the fee when you pay with BNB, the other returns part of the fee; they work differently and generally apply together. The combined net is whatever your account shows.

Do I have to buy BNB to get the discount?

The discount only applies when there's BNB in the account to pay fees with. You don't need a large amount — enough to cover fees — but a zero balance leaves the switch nothing to draw on. Details in the BNB discount guide.

Is a code the same as a bonus?

No. Whether a referred-user rebate applies, its actual rate and its duration follow the registration or account page and local terms. Binance also runs occasional promotions separately; check the official activity pages for those.