Convert FAQ
1. Why do I receive an insufficient balance prompt when using Convert?
To use Convert, you need a sufficient available balance in the account Convert is drawing on — the Convert screen shows which account that is. If the balance you expect to see isn't there, check the following:
The asset is in a different account. Go to Assets > Transfer and move the asset into the account Convert is drawing on.
The asset is subscribed to Earn. Assets held in Earn aren't available until you redeem them. Redeem from the Earn page first, then convert. Redemption times are set by the product you subscribed to.
The asset is locked by an open order or a bot. Open spot orders, grid bots and other running strategies reserve the assets they need. Cancel the order or stop the bot to release the balance.
The asset is being used as margin. Assets backing an open futures position are reserved until you close the position or reduce the margin you've committed.
The asset is set to untradable. Check the trading permissions in your account settings and set the asset back to tradable.
The amount is below the minimum. Convert has a minimum conversion amount. Enter the amount you want to convert and the quote screen will tell you if it's below the minimum that applies — if it is, use Sell crypto or place a spot order instead.
If your balance is still short after these checks, you can deposit crypto or cash before you convert.
2. How do I deposit crypto to use Convert?
You can refer to the following articles to learn more about how to deposit crypto:
3. Where can I view crypto after it has been converted using Convert?
Converted crypto is automatically deposited into your account.
4. Where can I view my Convert transaction history?
You can view the transaction history in Activity> filter Type: Convert.
That's the authoritative record of your conversions. If a conversion looks different somewhere else in the app — for example on a price chart or in your asset overview — check it against Activity with Type: Convert applied before assuming something went wrong.
5. Why can't I find the crypto I want to convert?
You can only see the currently supported crypto in the Convert field. If you can't find your desired crypto, it may not be supported at the moment.
The list is generated live, so it changes over time — an asset that isn't there today may appear later, and the reverse can also happen. The same applies to pairs: an asset being available doesn't mean every combination involving it can be converted. Treat the Convert field itself as the source of truth rather than an older article or screenshot.
If the asset or pair you want isn't available, you have other options:
Check whether a spot trading pair exists for it under Trade > Spot.
Use Sell crypto if you want to cash out the asset.
Withdraw the asset to an external wallet if neither of the above is available.
6. Can I convert my crypto to cash using this Convert feature?
Convert is built for exchanging one asset for another in a single step, and it can be used to move between crypto and cash. Which assets and which pairs are available to you is checked at the time you use it — open Convert, select what you're converting from and to, and the field will show you what you can do on your account right now.
What Convert doesn't do is pay money out to you. Converting into cash leaves that cash in your OKX account; it doesn't send it to your bank. If your goal is to end up with money in your bank account, use the Sell crypto feature to sell your holdings, and then make a withdrawal. The Buy crypto feature works the same way in the opposite direction.
So: use Convert when you want to change what you're holding, and use Sell crypto when you want to cash out.
7. Does Convert charge a fee? Why did I receive less than I expected?
Convert doesn't charge a separate trading fee, and it doesn't use the maker and taker fees that apply on the spot order book. The cost is built into the rate you're quoted. Like any exchange rate, a Convert quote includes a spread — the difference between the price at which an asset is bought and the price at which it's sold. That's why a zero trading fee doesn't mean a conversion is free, and why the amount you receive can be lower than the mid-market price you see on a price chart or on another site. See our Buy, Sell and Convert spread disclosure for how the spread is applied.
A few things follow from this:
The amount shown before you confirm is an estimate. Your conversion is settled at the rate at the moment it's executed, so the final amount can differ if the market moves in between. Check the final amount on the confirmation screen before you confirm.
Converting back and forth costs you the spread twice. If you convert an asset and then convert it straight back, you'll normally end up with less than you started with. This is the spread, not a hidden fee, and it can't be refunded.
The spread isn't fixed. It moves with market conditions and with the liquidity of the pair you're converting, so we can't guarantee a rate in advance.
For larger amounts, consider spot trading. On the spot market you can place a limit order and set the price you're willing to accept, which often gives you a better result than a quote-based conversion. Spot trades are charged a trading fee, which depends on your VIP level and holdings — see the fee schedule for the rates that apply to your account.
8. Can I convert one cash currency directly into another cash currency?
No. Convert exchanges one crypto asset for another, and it exchanges crypto for cash. It doesn't exchange one cash currency directly for another.
If you're holding cash in one currency and want to end up holding cash in another, you'd convert into a crypto asset first and then convert that asset into the currency you want. Each leg is priced at the rate available at that moment and each leg carries a spread, so a two-step route costs more than a single conversion. Open Convert and select what you're converting from to see which currencies you can work with on your account.
9. Why is the rate on the crypto calculator different from the rate on the Convert page?
The crypto calculator gives you an indicative reference rate so you can check roughly what an amount is worth. The Convert page gives you a live, tradable quote: it reflects the spread and the liquidity available for that pair at that moment, and it's only valid for a short time before it refreshes.
Because the two are produced for different purposes, small differences between them are normal and don't indicate an error. The quote shown on the Convert page is the one that applies to your conversion.
10. Can I cancel or reverse a conversion?
No. A conversion is final as soon as you confirm it. It can't be cancelled, reversed or refunded, and this applies to conversions between crypto assets as well as conversions between crypto and cash.
If you want to return to the asset you started with, you'd place a new conversion at the rate available at that time. That rate won't be the same one you received originally, and the new conversion carries its own spread.
11. What's the difference between Convert and spot trading?
Convert is built for quick, simple exchanges: you're shown a quote, you confirm it, and the assets are exchanged in one step. There are no charts, no order types and no partial fills, and a maximum amount applies to each conversion. Enter the amount you want to convert and the quote screen will show you the limit that applies at that moment.
Spot trading runs on an order book. You can place market, limit and stop orders, see market depth and price history, and trade in larger sizes, but each trade is charged a trading fee.
If Convert won't let you exchange the full amount in one go, you can split it into several conversions, or place a spot order instead.
12. Convert isn't working or shows an error. What should I do?
If you see a "Service temporarily unavailable" message, or the Convert option doesn't appear where you expect it to:
Wait a few minutes and try again. A quote can be refused when the pair can't be priced at that moment.
Refresh the page, or close and reopen the app, and make sure you're on the latest app version.
Try the same conversion on the other platform — if it fails in the app, try the web version, and vice versa.
Check whether the balance you're converting from is reserved. An open order, a running bot, an Earn subscription, margin on an open position, or an asset set to untradable will all block a conversion.
If it still fails, contact support and include a screenshot or screen recording showing the error message, the pair you were converting and the time it happened.