How to sign up for Binance: phone / email + identity verification, step by step

First, a note: this is a beginner-oriented sign-up guide, not an official manual. Binance's pages get updated, so button labels and step order may differ slightly from what you see, but the overall direction and the things to watch are the same. We flag the spots where people get stuck or miss something, so if you follow the thinking you won't go wrong. Before you start, get the items below ready.

Before signing up, prepare these

• An email or phone number you use. Pick one you'll reliably get codes on long-term and won't lose, since logging in and password recovery all depend on it.
• An ID document. You'll need it for the verification step, so keep it nearby rather than hunting for it midway.
• Invite code: GOD166. This is the Binance code we use, to be entered at the sign-up step. Keep it in mind, or just sign up via the coded link in the right sidebar (the code comes pre-filled).
• Bookmark the official entry. Once you're in, save it to your browser bookmarks and only ever enter via the bookmark — the simplest, most effective way to dodge phishing sites.

Why list the invite code under "before signing up"? Because it can only be entered at the moment of sign-up and can't be added later. Miss it and you permanently lose a fee discount. For the mechanism behind this, see what invite codes and rebates are.

Step 1: sign up by email / phone (the key is the code)

Open the sign-up page and the flow is roughly this:

1. Choose email or phone sign-up. Either works, the flow is almost identical; use the one you just prepared.
2. Set a strong password. Don't reuse a password from elsewhere; a crypto account's password should be unique and strong.
3. Enter invite code GOD166. This is the most important and most easily missed step. The sign-up form has an "invite / referral code" field, sometimes collapsed by default, so you may have to tap "optional" or "expand" to see it — don't skip it just because it's hidden. Enter GOD166, confirm the box really shows this code, then continue. (If you came via the coded link in the right sidebar, this box is usually pre-filled; just check it.)
4. Get the code and submit. Take the verification code from your email or SMS and enter it back, and the account is created.

At this point you have a Binance account. But don't rush to fund it yet — there are still verification and two-factor to finish before the account is truly usable and safe.

Step 2: how to pass identity verification (KYC)

Identity verification (the industry term is KYC, "know your customer") is a standard requirement at major exchanges, and without it you usually can't fund or withdraw normally. The flow is generally:

1. Fill in basic details. Name, document number and so on — fill them in truthfully and matching your document.
2. Upload document photos. Follow the prompts to photograph / upload your ID; good light, all four corners in frame, no glare — and you're likely to pass first time.
3. Face check. Most will ask you to do a liveness check (blink or turn your head at the camera) to prove it's you operating.
4. Wait for review. After submitting, wait for the system to review; it's quick when smooth, but at peak times it may take a while — be patient and don't resubmit repeatedly.

Safety red line: submit your documents and face check only on the exchange's official page. Anyone in a DM, a group, or posing as "support" asking you to send them your document photos or codes is one hundred percent a scammer. The real exchange will never privately ask you for these.

Step 3: turn on two-factor (2FA) for safety

With the account created and verified, go straight to settings and turn on two-factor (2FA). Plenty of beginners skip this as a hassle and plant a serious risk.

Two-factor = a second lock on your account. Once on, knowing the password alone won't get you in; you also need that string of codes generated on your phone. So even if the password accidentally leaks, no one can get into your account.

• Prefer an authenticator app (an authenticator-type app); the codes it generates are safer than SMS codes (SMS can be hijacked).
• Be sure to back up the recovery codes / key. When setting up 2FA, copy down the recovery codes the system gives you and keep them safe. If you lose your phone, that's what lets you recover — don't treat this as a hassle.

With these three steps done — sign up, verify, two-factor — your Binance account is truly set up: usable, and able to withstand basic security risks.

After signing up, run through with small money

With the account set up, don't rush a big deposit. The steadiest way to get familiar is in this order: fund a small amount → buy a little on spot → sell it → try a withdrawal. Use money you can fully afford to lose to run the whole "how money goes in, how to buy and sell, how to take it out" loop, and you'll feel completely sure. This approach is covered in more detail in crypto basics: from zero to one.

Also, don't forget: by entering the code at sign-up, you've already got the fee discount; to push fees even lower, see how are Binance fees calculated? Spot / futures rates + how to cut them and put the BNB discount and the maker habit to use too.

One last serious reminder: crypto prices are extremely volatile and you can lose all of your capital; leverage is especially dangerous, so beginners should stay away. Open an account to learn and try in small amounts, not to go all in.

A few common questions

Phone or email to sign up?
Either works, the flow is almost identical. Pick the one you'll reliably get codes on and won't lose. The key is not forgetting invite code GOD166 at sign-up.

Is verification safe, and what do I upload?
It's a standard requirement at major exchanges; you usually upload document photos + do a face check. Submit only on the official page, and never send documents to any "support" who messages you.

Is two-factor a must?
Strongly recommended, the sooner the better. It adds a second lock, so a leaked password still can't get anyone in. Turn it on as the first thing after signing up.

This is independent editorial content from Xiaoyumi Academy and contains exchange referral (affiliate) links: if you sign up and trade through our links, we may earn a commission and you get a matching fee discount — this is the site's only income and it doesn't shape our judgment. This site is not the official website of Binance, OKX, Bitget, Bybit or Gate.io, and this article is not official documentation; the pages and steps follow Binance's current official version. Crypto prices are highly volatile and you can lose all of your capital, with leverage especially dangerous; this article is for educational reference only, is not investment advice, and you should decide for yourself in line with the laws of your region. If any figures are updated, you'll see it in the corrections log.