A Binance sub-account is an independent trading account under your main account, designed for institutional users, professional traders, and asset managers. Opening a sub-account requires meeting certain conditions — the most basic being that your main account has completed identity verification. After registering at Binance, eligible users can apply to enable sub-account functionality.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of Binance sub-account features and usage.
What Is a Binance Sub-Account?
A Binance sub-account is an independent account subordinate to the main account. Each sub-account has its own login credentials, assets, and trading permissions. The main account can create multiple sub-accounts and manage them centrally.
Core Features of Sub-Accounts:
- Independent login credentials: Each sub-account has its own email and password
- Independent asset management: Sub-account assets are separate from the main account
- Controllable permissions: The main account can configure sub-account functionality
- Fund transfers: Assets can be freely transferred between main and sub-accounts
- Unified management: The main account can view all sub-accounts' trades and assets
Sub-Account Limits:
- Standard verified users: Up to 20 sub-accounts
- VIP 1-2: Up to 50 sub-accounts
- VIP 3 and above: Up to 200 sub-accounts
- Corporate accounts: Up to 1,000 sub-accounts
What Are the Requirements to Open Sub-Accounts?
Enabling sub-accounts requires meeting certain prerequisites. Not all users can use the sub-account feature.
Required conditions:
- Main account has completed KYC identity verification
- Main account has enabled 2FA security verification
- Main account is in good standing (not frozen or restricted)
Additional requirements that may apply:
- Users in some regions may need to complete advanced verification
- Corporate sub-accounts require business registration documents
- Market maker sub-accounts require a separate application
Processing time:
- Personal sub-accounts: Instant activation
- Corporate sub-accounts: 1-5 business days for review
How to Create a Binance Sub-Account?
Creating a sub-account is most convenient on the Binance web platform. Follow these steps to complete the process.
Creation Steps:
Step 1: Access the Sub-Account Management Page
Log into your Binance main account, click your profile icon in the top-right corner > "Sub-Account." Or find it under "More" > "Sub-Account Management."
Step 2: Create a New Sub-Account
Click the "Create Sub-Account" button and select the sub-account type:
- Standard Sub-Account: Suitable for most scenarios
- Managed Sub-Account: Suitable for asset management scenarios
- Market Maker Sub-Account: Requires a special application
Step 3: Fill In Sub-Account Information
You'll need to provide:
- Sub-account email: Set an independent login email for the sub-account
- Sub-account label: Give the sub-account an easily identifiable name
- Password: Set an independent login password for the sub-account
Step 4: Configure Permissions
Set up feature permissions for the sub-account:
- Spot trading permission: Whether to allow spot trading
- Futures trading permission: Whether to allow futures functionality
- Withdrawal permission: Whether to allow direct withdrawals from the sub-account
- API permission: Whether to allow API access
Step 5: Complete Creation
Confirm all information is correct and click "Create." The sub-account takes effect immediately and can be accessed with its own email and password.
What Are the Practical Use Cases for Sub-Accounts?
Sub-accounts are useful in many scenarios. Here are the most common use cases with recommended configurations.
Scenario 1: Strategy Isolation
Execute different trading strategies in different sub-accounts:
- Sub-Account A: Long-term holdings (spot)
- Sub-Account B: Short-term trading (futures)
- Sub-Account C: Quantitative trading (API)
- Advantage: Strategies don't interfere with each other, making it easy to evaluate each strategy's performance
Scenario 2: Risk Management
Limit maximum capital per strategy through sub-accounts:
- Allocate fixed funds to each sub-account
- Even if one sub-account incurs losses, it doesn't affect others
- Keep the majority of funds in the main account as reserve
Scenario 3: Team Collaboration
Multiple traders in an investment team use their own sub-accounts:
- Each trader has independent login access
- Managers monitor everything through the main account
- Sub-account trading instruments and amounts can be restricted
Scenario 4: API Trading
Different quantitative strategies use different API keys:
- Each sub-account generates independent API keys
- A key leak only affects a single sub-account
- Easy management of multiple trading bots
You can also download the Binance app — iPhone users can refer to the iOS installation guide — to view and manage sub-accounts on mobile.
How to Transfer Funds Between Sub-Accounts and Main Account?
Fund transfers between the main account and sub-accounts are instant and free of charge.
Transfer Steps:
- Log into the main account
- Go to "Sub-Account Management"
- Select "Asset Transfer"
- Choose the transfer direction (Main → Sub-Account or Sub-Account → Main)
- Select the currency and amount to transfer
- Confirm the transfer
Transfer Rules:
- Main → Sub-Account: Available anytime
- Sub-Account → Main: Available anytime
- Sub-Account → Sub-Account: Must go through the main account
- No transfer fees
- Instant settlement
- No daily transfer limits
Notes:
- Only the main account can initiate transfers
- Sub-accounts with restricted withdrawal permissions can still transfer back to the main account
- Transfer records can be found in "Transaction History"
How to Manage Sub-Account Security?
Sub-account security is equally important. A security issue with one sub-account could potentially affect the main account.
Security Recommendations:
- Use different emails and passwords for each sub-account
- Enable 2FA for each sub-account
- Principle of least privilege: Only enable necessary permissions
- Regularly review sub-account activity: Check for unusual trades
- Freeze unused sub-accounts promptly
- Set IP whitelists for API keys: Restrict the IP addresses allowed for API calls
Set up security measures after registering at Binance before using sub-account features.
Security Reminders
When using Binance sub-account features, pay special attention to these security considerations:
- Main account security is paramount: A compromised main account puts all sub-accounts at risk
- Don't lend sub-accounts to others: This violates Binance's terms of service and may result in all accounts being banned
- Rotate API keys regularly: Change them at least every 3 months
- Monitor unusual logins: Enable login notifications and respond immediately to anomalies
- Back up all sub-account 2FA: Avoid losing access
- Don't store more funds than necessary in sub-accounts: Reduce single-point risk
Can Sub-Accounts Complete KYC Independently?
No, they don't need to. Sub-accounts inherit the main account's KYC verification status. As long as the main account has completed KYC, all sub-accounts automatically receive the corresponding verification level and permissions. This also means sub-account users must share the same identity as the main account holder.
Does Freezing a Sub-Account Affect the Main Account?
Generally not. A single frozen sub-account doesn't directly affect the main account or other sub-accounts. However, if a sub-account is frozen due to violations (such as suspected money laundering), the entire account system may be investigated. Always ensure all sub-accounts comply with Binance's rules.
Can Sub-Accounts Withdraw Directly?
It depends on the main account's settings. The main account can choose whether to grant withdrawal permissions to sub-accounts. If enabled, sub-accounts can withdraw independently. For security purposes, it's recommended to disable sub-account withdrawal permissions and route all withdrawals through the main account.
What Happens to Assets When Deleting a Sub-Account?
All assets must be transferred back to the main account before deletion. If the sub-account still holds assets, the system will prompt you to complete the transfer first. Deletion is irreversible, but historical trading records can still be accessed through the main account.
Do Regular Users Need Sub-Accounts?
For regular individual investors who simply buy and sell crypto, sub-accounts are usually unnecessary. Sub-accounts are more suitable for: investors managing large portfolios, professional traders running multiple strategies, developers using API for quantitative trading, and investment firms requiring team collaboration.