How to Switch Your KuCoin Referral Code: Sign-Up Only, New Account for Unverified Old Accounts (2026)

Updated 2026-10-22・Rules checked 2026-10-11

On KuCoin, a referral code is meant to be entered at sign-up. KuCoin’s 2017 sign-up guide states that a referral code can’t be added once registration is complete, and support won’t add one manually; the Help Center’s Self-Service section, however, now has a “Link Referrer” request to add a referrer, and an “Unlink Referrer” request if you already have one. KuCoin reviews both and doesn’t state a deadline, conditions or review time (checked 2026-10-22). So on KuCoin, “switching” comes down to two options: submitting a request, or opening a new account with a new email address through a new referral link. Since August 31, 2023, all new users must complete identity verification, and each person can verify only one account, so the new-account route works only if your old account was never verified. This guide goes through what you can do in each situation under the official rules, and the steps involved if you go through Fee Otter.

The official rules below were checked on 2026-10-11 and are provided for reference.

Can you switch your KuCoin referral code?

Your situation	Can you switch?	What to do
No KuCoin account yet	Yes	Sign up through a referral link or enter the referral code manually, and check that the field is filled in before you submit
Already signed up but forgot the referral code	You can submit a request, reviewed by KuCoin	Submit a “Link Referrer” request in the Help Center’s Self-Service section; KuCoin doesn’t state the conditions. If it isn’t approved, the conditions for a new account are in the next row
Old account never completed identity verification	Possibly, subject to KuCoin’s review	Ask support first, then open a new account with an email address never registered on KuCoin, complete verification on the new account, and move your assets over
Old account already verified with your own identity	Not with a new account, but you can submit a request	Each person can verify only one account, and one ID document can register only one account; KuCoin’s official pages also show no process for transferring a verified identity. On your existing account you can submit a “Link Referrer” or “Unlink Referrer” request, reviewed by KuCoin
You already have a referrer and want someone else	You can request an unlink, reviewed by KuCoin	Submit an “Unlink Referrer” request in the Help Center’s Self-Service section; KuCoin doesn’t state whether you can link a different referrer afterward

What are KuCoin’s official rules on referral codes?

• Old guide: a referral code can only be entered at sign-up: KuCoin’s 2017 sign-up guide states that a referral code becomes invalid once registration succeeds, that KuCoin can’t add it to an account manually, and suggests opening a new account with another email address to use the referral code (KuCoin sign-up guide). This guide is an older document from before identity verification became mandatory; the Help Center’s Self-Service section now also has a “Link Referrer” request, reviewed by KuCoin, and the guide’s “open a new account” advice now has to be read together with the verification rules below.
• How to check at sign-up: the beginner’s guide updated on 2026-07-07 says to check that the referral code appears when you set your password; if you came in through an invitation link and the code wasn’t filled in, the link may have expired, and you can enter the last 6 characters of the referral code manually (KuCoin sign-up and login help). This guide says nothing about adding a code after sign-up.
• All new users must verify their identity, and each person can verify only one account: since August 31, 2023 (UTC), new users have had to complete identity verification; the same article states that one person can verify only one KuCoin account (KuCoin identity verification help). The web verification tutorial also states that one ID document can be used to register only one KuCoin account (KuCoin web identity verification tutorial).
• Bulk registration for rewards is prohibited: the referral program terms prohibit registering accounts in bulk to earn extra commission, rebates or rewards (KuCoin referral program); the affiliate program announcement also lists bulk registration as dishonest behavior, for which KuCoin can disqualify participants and claw back commission (KuCoin affiliate program announcement).

No KuCoin account yet: how do you enter a referral code?

Open the sign-up page through a referral link, and when you set your password, check that the referral code is filled in before you submit. This is the only point at which you can be sure you’re bound to a referrer; once you submit, changing it means sending a separate request for KuCoin to review. To use only the referral code without a rebate site, see KuCoin referral code; for what to watch for when signing up in the mobile app, see referral code binding when signing up in the app.

Your old KuCoin account was never verified: can you open a new account to switch?

For accounts registered before August 31, 2023 that were never verified, KuCoin states that you can only sell crypto, close futures and margin positions, and redeem Earn products and ETFs; you can’t deposit, and withdrawals aren’t affected (KuCoin identity verification help). An account like this hasn’t used up the “one verified account per person” allowance, so in theory you can open a new account:

1. Contact KuCoin support first, explain that your old account never completed identity verification, and confirm that the new account can be verified with your identity. Whether the new account passes is ultimately up to KuCoin’s review.
2. Have an email address or phone number ready that has never been registered on KuCoin.
3. Sign up through the new referral link, and check that the referral code is filled in when you set your password.
4. Complete identity verification on the new account.
5. On the old account, close positions, cancel orders and redeem Earn products first, then withdraw your assets to the new account. Test with a small amount first, and make sure the coin and network match.

Also note that KuCoin announced on 2026-05-11 that it charges a dormancy fee on unverified accounts that have been inactive for a long time and have received a notice: for each coin worth 2 USDT or more, the fee is 2 USDT plus 1%, and balances under 2 USDT are deducted in full; verified accounts are automatically exempt (KuCoin dormancy fee announcement). If your old account still holds assets, don’t leave them sitting there.

Your KuCoin account is already verified or has a referrer: can you still switch?

KuCoin has no direct process for changing referrers; what the Help Center offers is an “Unlink Referrer” request, reviewed by KuCoin, and it doesn’t state whether you can link someone else afterward (checked 2026-10-22). Its official pages also show no process for transferring identity verification to another account. Here is what the official rules say about the methods you’ll see online:

• Opening a new account with a different ID document: for example, using a national ID card on the old account and a passport on the new one. KuCoin’s rule is that one “person” can verify only one account, not one document; switching documents doesn’t change the fact that you’re the same person.
• Deleting your account and signing up again: KuCoin’s account deletion help states that deletion is permanent and can’t be undone, and that personal data is kept for 7 years (KuCoin account deletion help, on the Australian site). KuCoin doesn’t state whether you can verify again with the same identity after deleting, and the rule that one ID document can register only one account doesn’t exclude deleted accounts. If verification fails after you delete, you can’t get the old account back either, so this site doesn’t recommend it.
• Sub-accounts: sub-accounts are created and managed by the main account (KuCoin sub-account help). The referral program excludes sub-accounts from eligibility, and the affiliate program counts sub-account fees toward the main account’s commission, so opening a sub-account won’t get you a new referrer.
• Using a family member’s or someone else’s identity: KuCoin’s terms of use state that the platform can suspend or terminate service if you register with someone else’s identity information (Article 36), and strictly prohibit buying or selling identity verification data in any form (Article 70) (KuCoin terms of use). Don’t do this.

For an account that’s already verified, the safest approach for now is to stay on that account, submit the Help Center request if you want to add or unlink a referrer, and ask KuCoin support directly if you have questions.

Is a KuCoin referrer’s commission period 365 days or lifetime?

KuCoin has two programs with different time limits. The referral program for regular users states that a referrer can earn commission on an invitee’s trades for 365 days from the invitee’s sign-up (KuCoin referral program). The affiliate program announcement states that for invitees who signed up after September 22, 2022, the commission period is lifetime; the same announcement also states that zero-fee trades and invitees at LV3 or above don’t count toward commission (KuCoin affiliate program announcement). The 2025 affiliate program guide doesn’t state a time limit (KuCoin affiliate program 2025 guide). Fee Otter says its referral code comes from KuCoin’s affiliate dashboard, so the affiliate program applies; KuCoin doesn’t separately state how long you’ll receive your share of the rebate, so go by the partner’s own terms.

How do you confirm your KuCoin referral code is bound?

KuCoin’s official help doesn’t describe a page where invitees can view their own “my referrer”. There are two points where you can check: at sign-up, whether the referral code was filled in at the password step; and after sign-up, by binding your UID on a rebate site and seeing whether its system confirms you’re under its referral code. If you’re still unsure, you can give your UID to KuCoin support and ask them to check. For other exchanges, see the referral code lookup guide.

How do you switch on KuCoin through Fee Otter?

1. First confirm that you fall under Case 1 or Case 2 above.
2. Sign up through Fee Otter’s KuCoin sign-up link kucoin.com/r/af/FEEOTTER; the referral code is FEEOTTER. Check the field before you submit.
3. Complete KuCoin identity verification and copy your UID.
4. Sign up for Fee Otter and bind your UID on the member page. Binding needs only your UID, never your password, a verification code or an API key.

Fee Otter’s rebate page lists KuCoin at 60% (a 60% automatic fee rebate from the exchange plus a 0% extra rebate from Fee Otter) (checked 2026-10-11). In other words, KuCoin’s entire rebate is returned automatically by the exchange, and Fee Otter adds nothing on top; Fee Otter’s extra rebate (currently 0% for KuCoin) is paid by Fee Otter, not the exchange, and not Kevin Wu.

What are the risks of switching on KuCoin?

• Past fees aren’t counted retroactively: rebates are calculated only once you start trading on the new account; fees already paid on the old account can’t be recovered.
• The new account may not pass verification: KuCoin reviews it, so ask support before moving your assets.
• Moving assets carries a risk of mistakes: if you pick the wrong coin or network, your assets may be unrecoverable; test with a small amount first.
• Bulk registration can lead to commission being clawed back: both the referral and affiliate programs prohibit registering accounts in bulk for rewards, and the related commission may be clawed back; see rules for canceled rebates.

FAQ

Can I change my KuCoin referral code?

KuCoin has no direct process for changing referrers. The referral relationship is set at sign-up; the Help Center’s Self-Service section now has an “Unlink Referrer” request, reviewed by KuCoin, and KuCoin doesn’t state whether you can link a different referrer afterward (checked 2026-10-22).

Can I add a KuCoin referral code after signing up?

You can submit a request. KuCoin’s 2017 sign-up guide says a referral code becomes invalid once registration succeeds and KuCoin won’t add one manually, but the Help Center’s Self-Service section now has a “Link Referrer” request. KuCoin reviews it and doesn’t state a deadline, conditions or review time (checked 2026-10-22). For other exchanges’ deadlines for adding a code, see can you add a referral code after sign-up.

I’ve already verified my identity. Can I open a new account?

Not under the official rules. One person can verify only one KuCoin account, and one ID document can register only one account, so a new account can’t be verified with the same identity.

How much rebate will I get after switching?

It depends on the referral code you use. With Fee Otter’s referral code, Fee Otter’s rebate page lists 60%, all returned automatically by KuCoin (checked 2026-10-11); for the rate with the referral code alone, see KuCoin referral code. If you trade high volumes, note that the affiliate program announcement states invitees at LV3 or above don’t count toward commission; for VIP cases, see VIP referral rebates.

Do I need to give my password or an API key to switch?

No. You complete the sign-up yourself on KuCoin’s official page, and a rebate site only needs your UID. Never give anyone who asks for your password, a verification code or an API key; see how to spot a rebate scam.

Each exchange’s switching rules are in the guide to switching referral codes, and all referral codes are listed in the exchange referral code overview. If you don’t receive rebates after switching, check how to check a missing rebate, and to compare rebate sites, see how to choose a rebate site.