The OKX address whitelist is not shared between the main account and sub-accounts—each must be configured separately. Every account, whether main or sub, maintains independent withdrawal permissions. Settings applied to the main account do not automatically propagate to sub-accounts. For maximum security, it’s strongly recommended to enable the whitelist feature on all active accounts and disable unnecessary withdrawal rights across unused or restricted sub-accounts.
Managing digital assets securely on OKX involves more than just trading—it requires robust account configuration. One of the most effective tools for protecting your funds is the address whitelist. But if you're using multiple sub-accounts, a critical question arises: Does setting up a whitelist on your main account protect your sub-accounts too? Or do you need to configure each one individually?
Understanding how this feature works can prevent costly mistakes and strengthen your overall security posture.
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What Is an Address Whitelist—and Why Does It Matter?
An address whitelist allows you to pre-approve specific wallet addresses as the only destinations to which you can withdraw funds. Once enabled, any attempt to send cryptocurrency to an address not on the list will be blocked—even if your account credentials are compromised.
This feature serves three key purposes:
- Enhances security: Prevents unauthorized withdrawals, even in the event of a phishing attack or password leak.
- Reduces human error: Eliminates accidental transfers to incorrect or malicious addresses.
- Enables granular control: Ideal for teams, funds, or individuals managing multiple accounts who want strict oversight over fund outflows.
For high-volume traders, institutional users, or anyone holding significant balances, enabling the whitelist is not optional—it’s essential.
Is the Whitelist Shared Between Main and Sub-Accounts?
No. The OKX address whitelist is not shared between the main account and its sub-accounts. Each sub-account operates with its own independent security settings, including its own separate whitelist.
Here’s what that means in practice:
- If you add a wallet address to your main account’s whitelist, it will not be accessible from any sub-account.
- Each sub-account must have its own whitelist manually configured.
- Even if two sub-accounts manage the same asset types, their whitelists are isolated and must be managed separately.
This design choice enhances flexibility and security by ensuring that each account’s withdrawal permissions remain compartmentalized. It prevents scenarios where a compromised sub-account could be used to drain funds through a broadly shared whitelist.
Can Sub-Accounts Have Their Own Whitelist? How to Set It Up
Yes—sub-accounts can have their own address whitelists, provided they have withdrawal privileges enabled.
To set up a whitelist on a sub-account:
- Log in to your main OKX account.
- Navigate to Sub-Account Management.
- Select the desired sub-account and click “Log in” to access its dashboard.
- Go to Security Settings > Withdrawal Address Management.
- Add one or more trusted wallet addresses.
- Toggle on the option: “Only allow withdrawals to whitelisted addresses.”
- Confirm the changes using your 2FA method (Google Authenticator, SMS, etc.).
⚠️ Important: Only sub-accounts with full operational permissions can manage their own whitelists. If the main account has disabled withdrawal rights for a sub-account, the whitelist function will be inactive.
Regularly audit these settings—especially after team changes or strategy shifts—to ensure no outdated or unauthorized addresses remain.
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Are There Tools for Centralized Whitelist Management?
As of now, OKX does not offer a bulk or centralized tool to sync whitelists across all sub-accounts simultaneously. You cannot apply one master list from the main account and push it down to all children.
However, you can adopt best practices to streamline management:
- Use a standardized address template: Maintain a master document listing approved withdrawal destinations (e.g., cold wallets, exchange hot wallets).
- Batch configure during setup: When creating new sub-accounts, immediately log into each one and apply the standard whitelist.
- Centralize withdrawals: Disable withdrawal permissions on all sub-accounts and route all fund exits through the main account. This creates a "centralized exit" model—ideal for trading teams or quantitative strategies.
This approach—decentralized trading, centralized withdrawals—reduces risk exposure while maintaining operational efficiency.
Best Practices for Securing Main and Sub-Accounts
To maximize protection across your entire OKX ecosystem:
✅ Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on both main and sub-accounts
✅ Turn on IP binding and device management for login restrictions
✅ Regularly review and clean up outdated addresses in each whitelist
✅ Limit withdrawal permissions only to sub-accounts that absolutely need them
✅ Monitor login activity and withdrawal logs weekly
Additionally, always access OKX through the official website to avoid phishing traps. Never rely on third-party links or search engine results.
👉 Learn how professionals secure multi-account crypto portfolios on OKX.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I copy my main account’s whitelist to a sub-account?
A: Not automatically. You’ll need to manually enter each approved address into the sub-account’s whitelist settings.
Q: What happens if I try to withdraw from a sub-account to a non-whitelisted address?
A: The transaction will be blocked immediately, even if 2FA is provided. This is the core protection the whitelist offers.
Q: Do I need to re-verify when adding a new address to the whitelist?
A: Yes. Every new address addition requires identity verification via email and 2FA for security reasons.
Q: Can I set different whitelists for different cryptocurrencies in the same account?
A: Yes. OKX allows per-currency address whitelisting. You can specify unique approved addresses for BTC, ETH, USDT, etc.
Q: What if my sub-account doesn’t show the whitelist option?
A: Check whether withdrawal permissions are enabled. If disabled by the main account, the whitelist feature will not appear.
Q: Is there a limit to how many addresses I can add to a whitelist?
A: While there's no public hard cap, OKX recommends keeping lists concise and regularly audited for better control.
By treating each OKX account as a separate security zone, you gain greater control—and reduce systemic risk. While the lack of shared whitelists may seem inconvenient at first, it ultimately supports a more secure and scalable structure for managing digital assets across teams, strategies, or investment vehicles.
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