After depositing on OKX, your funds go into the "Funding Account" by default, but you cannot use that balance directly for spot or futures trading. To trade, you must first move money from the Funding Account to the "Trading Account". Many beginners see a balance displayed but keep getting "insufficient margin" messages when placing orders — this is exactly where the problem lies.
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Step 1: Locate the Funding Account
Confirm where your newly deposited funds are. Open the OKX App, tap [Assets] or [Wallet] in the bottom navigation bar, and the default overview shown is your "Funding Account".
If you have just deposited crypto or received an external transfer, the funds land directly in the Funding Account, and the balance you see on the [Assets] page is held there.
If you plan to trade spot or futures, the money in the Funding Account cannot be used directly for orders. You need to transfer USDT from the Funding Account to the Trading Account.
Success criteria: verify that your deposited funds actually appear in the Funding Account.
Step 2: Transfer Funds in the App
The goal is to move funds from the Funding Account to the Trading Account so you can place orders. In the OKX App, go to [Assets] → tap the [Transfer] button. Note that this is an internal account transfer, not sending funds to someone else.
If you want to trade spot with USDT: on the transfer screen, set "From" as Funding Account and "To" as Spot Account or Trading Account (the names may differ slightly between versions), enter the amount and confirm.
If you want to trade futures: the logic is the same, but choose "Trading Account" as the destination to meet the margin requirements for futures.
Success criteria: after the transfer, on the [Assets] page switch to the "Trading Account" and verify that the available balance of the corresponding coin has increased.
Important: transfers are free, but if your USDT in the Funding Account is locked in Earn products or subscriptions, you must redeem them first. Sub-account fund transfers have separate rules; regular users usually do not need them and can ignore this.
Step 3: Verify Your Account Mode Is Compatible
The goal is to make sure your account mode allows you to use the transferred funds. OKX offers different account modes that affect how funds can be used. If you are using it for the first time, it helps to understand the default mode first.
For new users, "Spot Mode" is enabled by default. This mode supports spot trading and options buying but not margin trading. After transferring funds to the Trading Account, you can use them directly for spot orders.
If you have enabled "Spot and Futures Mode" or a more advanced mode, the logic for how Funding and Trading Accounts are separated may differ slightly. In single-currency cross-margin mode, products with the same settlement currency share margin. Before using futures, it is recommended to confirm your account mode first.
Success criteria: confirm that your account mode matches your trading needs.
A leading global cryptocurrency platform,suitable for both beginners and experienced traders.
New user benefit: 20% off trading fees upon registration!！
FAQ
Common reason for transfer failures: after a deposit is credited, the funds sit in the Funding Account, but you go directly to the trading page and place an order. You see an available balance but get an "insufficient margin" error. In most cases, it is not that the balance is actually insufficient — the funds simply are not in the Trading Account, which causes the order to be rejected.
How to verify the transfer was completed: after the transfer, go to the trading page (spot or futures) and check the "Available Balance" or "Margin" to confirm that the transferred amount appears there, not just in the "Funding Account" display.
Next steps: if you later need to withdraw, withdrawals are usually initiated from the Funding Account. If you make a profit on a trade, you can first move the profit from the Trading Account back to the Funding Account, and then proceed with the withdrawal. You can compare the balances of the "Funding Account" and "Trading Account" on the OKX App's [Assets] page to verify the status.
