Users who feel that cryptocurrency exchange fees are a waste might think of this at least once:
“If I sign up using my own referral code, couldn’t I get a portion of the fees I paid back?”
This is what is known as Self-Referral.
You can also easily find the following expressions online:
- Self-Referral
- Self-Referral (Korean variant)
- Fee Payback
- Referral Cashback
- Self Cashback
- Multi-account Payback
- Family Account Referral
- 50%·90% Fee Refund
However, these terms do not all mean the same thing.
In particular, the following three must be distinguished:
- Legitimate Referral / Affiliate Rebate
- External Payback Service
- Self-Referral / Referral Abuse
Bybit and Bitget officially operate legitimate Referral and Affiliate programs. Therefore, it cannot be said that an account is at risk simply because you receive a fee rebate.
Conversely, the act of creating a new referral account for yourself or for someone who is effectively the same user to obtain a commission or reward is a separate issue.
This article accurately distinguishes between these two concepts.
1. What is Self-Referral?
Self-Referral literally means:
The act of making yourself the target of a referral to receive your own referral or affiliate benefits.
The simplest example is as follows:
Account A
Your existing exchange account or affiliate account.
Account B
Another account you have newly created.
And:
A’s Referral Code → Sign up for B → Trade on B → A receives commission.
Creating this structure.
The problem is that B is not an actual independent new user, but effectively the same user as A.
2. Legitimate Payback vs. Self-Referral
This is the most important part.
Legitimate Referral
A invites an actual different user, B.
When B trades, A may receive a commission according to the exchange’s policy.
In some programs, B is also provided with a rebate or reward.
External Payback
Affiliate A invites an actual different user, B.
A pays back a portion of the commission received to B.
Self-Referral
A and B are effectively the same user, and they try to receive a commission by making B appear as a new referral.
Therefore:
Payback ≠ Self-Referral
It is not the same.
You must distinguish between legitimate payback services and self-referral that bypasses exchange policies.
3. Bybit’s Official Referral Program
Bybit currently operates an official Referral Program.
If a referred user signs up with a referral link or code and meets deposit and trading conditions, both the referrer and the referee can receive rewards. Referral commissions are also provided according to program conditions.
In other words, the referral itself is not the problem.
The structure intended by Bybit is:
Existing user → Inviting an actual new user
is the goal.
4. Bybit Affiliate Program is separate from Referral
In addition to the general Referral Program, Bybit also operates a separate Affiliate Program.
Affiliates can receive commissions linked to the trading fees of users who signed up through them, and Bybit allows management of commission and referral information via the Affiliate Portal.
Currently, Bybit’s official FAQ also explains:
- Referral Program
- Affiliate Program
as different structures.
Therefore, the fact that you “receive a commission from Bybit” does not automatically make it a self-referral.
5. How does Bybit handle fraudulent referral activities?
Bybit’s current referral FAQ explains that referees cannot receive rewards if they engage in inappropriate, dishonest, or abusive activities.
Also, several official 2026 promotion rules from Bybit specify the following acts as examples of fraud or abusive activity:
- Self-Referral
- Wash Trading
- Multiple Account Usage
- Volume Manipulation
- Market Manipulation
- Fake Account
- Self-Matching
Such acts can be grounds for cancellation of campaign rewards or disqualification, and some campaigns specify the possibility of account suspension or termination in serious cases.
6. So, is Bybit self-referral always a permanent ban?
You should not conclude that.
In previous CoinPop articles, it was suggested:
Self-referral detected → Commission forfeiture → Withdrawal suspension → Permanent ban → KYC blacklist
as a uniform sanction process.
However, official materials do not explain that the same 3-step procedure is applied to all cases.
What Bybit actually publicly specifies, depending on the program or campaign, is:
- Reward Disqualification
- Reward Revocation
- Campaign Disqualification
- Account Review
- Suspension/Termination in certain cases
etc.
Therefore:
“If you do a self-referral once, your account and all assets will be permanently frozen.”
should not be explained that way.
7. Bitget’s self-referral regulations are more direct
Bitget mentions self-referral more clearly in its affiliate guide.
Currently, Bitget’s official affiliate guide explains:
Referrals originating from the same IP address or the same device may be treated as self-referrals.
And it guides that if a self-referral is confirmed, you may lose past, present, and future reward eligibility. Bitget also specifies the right to take action against related accounts and funds.
Therefore, at Bitget:
Methods of artificially creating new referrals from the same user or the same environment
should be especially avoided.
8. Purpose of the Bitget Affiliate Program
The Bitget Affiliate Program is an official program where content creators, community leaders, bloggers, influencers, etc., invite new users and receive a commission from a portion of those users’ trading fees.
Current official policy guides a structure where affiliates can receive up to 50% commission on spot and futures trading fees.
In other words:
Affiliates receiving referral commissions
is a normal official structure itself.
The problem is whether you actually invited a new user, or whether you made yourself appear as a new referral.
9. Bitget’s official referral link can also set user rebates
In the Bitget Affiliate Portal, affiliates can set user rebate options within supported ranges while creating referral links or codes.
Therefore:
“A structure that returns a portion of trading fees to a referral user is always an abnormal payback.”
is also an incorrect claim.
Bitget itself provides a rebate sharing function for affiliate links.
10. Comparison of normal rebate and self-referral
| Category | Normal Referral/Rebate | Self-Referral |
|---|---|---|
| Referrer | Actual Affiliate/User | Self |
| Referred User | Separate actual user | Effectively self |
| Exchange Intent | Attracting new users | Can be disguised as new user |
| Commission | Officially permitted | Restriction/Sanction possible |
| User Rebate | Officially configurable | Abuse judgment possible |
| Multi-account needed | Generally unnecessary | Often used |
| Risk | Normal structure if policy followed | Referral Abuse risk |
The key is:
Is the referral relationship itself real, rather than who returns the money?
is the point.
11. Isn’t signing up under a family member’s name a self-referral?
You cannot unconditionally view it that way.
If the family member is an actual separate user and:
- Their own account
- Their own KYC
- Their own trades
- Their own funds
trades independently, you cannot conclude it is a self-referral simply because they are family.
However, if the actual user is one person but uses another family member’s name to:
Account for creating their own referral commission
operate it, the problem may change.
The key in official policy is not just a formal name, but the normality of the actual referral and account activity.
12. There is no guarantee that a family account is safe
Some online articles introduce methods like:
If you use a family member’s name, you just need to use a different IP.
Such methods cannot be recommended.
In particular, Bitget officially mentions same IP or device referrals as a factor in judging self-referrals.
However, this does not mean:
If only the IP is different, it is not a self-referral.
IP is just one risk signal and should not be understood as a way to bypass policy.
13. Is the story about MAC address tracking true?
Previous CoinPop documents concluded:
Exchanges track MAC addresses to detect self-referrals in real-time.
Currently, there is no basis to confirm such specific detection technology as a general policy based only on official Bybit/Bitget referral/affiliate documents.
Bitget specifies same IP or device, but does not disclose the entire detailed device fingerprinting technology.
Therefore:
AI analyzes MAC addresses and catches them in real-time.
It is better not to include specific sentences like this without evidence.
14. Is it unconditionally safe if the KYC is different?
No.
You cannot see referral activity as always normal just because the KYC is different.
Conversely, if the same user tries to create rewards using multiple KYCs, it may conflict with the exchange’s multiple account or fraud rules.
Bybit guides that one person should maintain only one verified account in individual verification. If the same identity document is found in multiple accounts, it guides to maintain the existing verified account.
15. Can’t one person create multiple accounts on Bybit?
Here, you must distinguish between a main account and a subaccount.
Bybit can provide an official subaccount function under one main account, but the act of creating and using multiple main accounts to obtain rewards is a separate issue.
Bybit’s official competition-related guidance also explains that using multiple accounts to increase rewards can be considered fraud.
In other words:
Official subaccount
and
Multiple accounts to obtain referral rewards
are different concepts.
16. Bitget also provides official subaccounts
Bitget also provides an official subaccount function under a main account.
Currently, Bitget guides that you can basically create up to 20 subaccounts, which can be used for trading strategy separation, team management, fund allocation, etc.
Therefore, if you want to operate multiple trading strategies:
Creating a separate new account for referral benefits
the official subaccount function may be more suitable for your purpose.
17. Can I receive my own referral commission with a subaccount?
Generally, an official subaccount is an internal trading structure of the main account, not a means to create a new independent referral user.
Bybit’s referral FAQ also explains that referral commissions can occur from a referee’s subaccount trading, but the referral relationship itself is a structure connected to the main referee account.
Therefore, you should not interpret a subaccount as a separate new referral.
18. What is Wash Trading?
Wash trading refers to the act of repeating linked trades to artificially create trading volume or rewards without actual market risk or independent trading purpose.
It can be especially problematic if you intentionally create trading volume to obtain referral rewards.
Several official Bybit campaigns explicitly prohibit wash trading and volume manipulation.
Bitget also specifies wash trading, illegal bulk account registration, and trades with self-dealing characteristics as reasons for reward exclusion in its promotion rules.
19. Are self-referral and wash trading the same?
No.
Self-Referral
The problem of turning referral relationships to yourself.
Wash Trading
The problem of artificially creating trading volume or market activity.
The two are separate concepts.
However, they can be used together as follows:
Create own referral account
→ Repeat meaningless trades to increase commission
→ Referral commission occurs
In this case:
- Self-Referral
- Multiple Account Abuse
- Wash Trading
problems can occur simultaneously.
20. ‘If you trade normally, is self-referral okay?’
It is difficult to conclude that.
Self-referral regulations can be a referral relationship issue separate from the normality of the trade itself.
In particular, Bitget officially specifies that referrals originating from the same IP or device can be treated as self-referrals.
Therefore, just because you traded normally does not mean the problem with the referral itself automatically disappears.
21. “I traded with my own money, so why is it a problem?”
From a user’s perspective:
“I paid actual fees to the exchange and am just getting a portion of my commission back?”
you might think.
However, the referral program is generally a marketing structure that pays commissions in exchange for attracting new users to the platform.
If an affiliate makes themselves a new customer to generate a commission, it can differ from the referral incentive structure intended by the exchange.
The Bitget Affiliate Program is also explained as a program that invites new users using referral links.
22. Why is normal payback not self-referral?
For example:
CoinPop
Affiliate
User A
Actual independent new user
A signs up with a CoinPop referral link.
A portion of the fee generated while A trades is paid as a CoinPop affiliate commission, and some benefits may return to A according to referral settings or separate payback policies.
In this case:
CoinPop ≠ User A
so it is not a self-referral.
It is a normal affiliate marketing structure.
23. Is it a self-referral if I use an external payback?
No.
If the external payback company and the user are actual separate entities and it is a normal referral relationship, there is no reason to call it a self-referral.
Therefore:
External Payback = Self-Referral = Account Suspension
is an incorrect formula.
What you should check separately is:
- Whether the affiliate complies with exchange policies
- Whether the payment structure is transparent
- Whether there is reward abuse
- Whether payback terms are clear
is the point.
24. There are other risks of external payback
Apart from Self-Referral, external Payback may involve additional Counterparty Risk.
Examples:
- Settlement delays
- Minimum withdrawal requirements
- Rate changes
- Business suspension
- Unsettled balances
Therefore, when evaluating a payback service, you should consider the Self-Referral issue and the external payment entity risk separately.
25. Does providing a UID count as self-referral?
There is no basis for such a claim.
The use of User IDs by affiliates to manage referral users is a standard practice in official affiliate systems.
The Bitget Affiliate Referral Center allows affiliates to identify and manage users they have directly invited based on their User ID.
The Bitget Transaction Center also allows for the lookup of referral trading activity based on User ID and Referral Code.
Therefore:
UID disclosure = Self-Referral detection
is an unsubstantiated claim.
26. That said, there is no need to share your UID everywhere
While a UID is not the same as a password or private key, it is an account identifier, so it is best to avoid unnecessary disclosure.
Be especially cautious if a payback site requests the following:
- Password
- Email Verification Code
- SMS Code
- Google Authenticator OTP
- Passkey
- API Secret
- Seed Phrase
- Private Key
There is no reason to provide such authentication information to verify a normal referral relationship.
27. What happens to commissions if self-referral is detected?
Bitget explains this part relatively clearly.
Referrals originating from the same IP address or device may be considered self-referrals, and the exchange officially states that you may lose past, present, and future reward eligibility for such self-referrals.
If an affiliate engages in fraudulent behavior, their affiliate status may be revoked or their rebate rate may be adjusted to zero.
Therefore, the possibility of commission loss exists under actual policy.
28. Are assets always confiscated?
One should not use the word “always.”
While Bitget reserves the right to take action against related accounts and funds in its self-referral regulations, it does not publicly state that it confiscates the full amount in the same manner for every suspected case of self-referral.
Therefore:
Self-referral = 100% immediate confiscation of principal
is an exaggeration.
29. Is there a possibility of reward clawback on Bybit?
Bybit specifies that if fraudulent/abusive activity is discovered in various promotions:
- Reward cancellation
- Participant disqualification
- Accrued reward cancellation
etc.
In other words, you should not assume that rewards obtained through fraudulent referral activity are protected rights.
30. The problem with the “if you don’t get caught, it’s fine” approach
The point is not to evade detection methods.
You cannot know exactly which IP, device fingerprint, KYC, or transaction patterns an exchange uses, and exchanges do not disclose their entire risk detection systems.
Therefore:
Using a VPN
Using a different PC
Using a family member’s phone
Using a different wallet
seeking ways to evade detection is the wrong direction.
The surest way is to use the referral program within its intended purpose.
31. Is self-referral safe if I use a VPN?
No.
A VPN only changes your internet connection path; it does not change the actual entity behind the referral relationship.
There is no basis to assume that an exchange’s risk control is determined solely by an IP address.
Therefore:
VPN = Self-referral is safe
is a logic that does not hold.
32. Is it safe if I use a different device?
The same applies.
Just because Bitget specifies the same device as one of the factors for determining self-referral does not mean:
There is no problem if you only use a different device.
The key is to avoid self-referral itself, not to find ways to bypass policies.
33. What if I use an account under someone else’s name?
If the actual account owner is someone else and they are using it themselves as a normal referral, it could be a separate user.
However, if you are the actual user but are using the names of:
- Family
- Friends
- Employees
to operate multiple accounts, there is a possibility of violating account/KYC/referral policies.
Therefore, creating self-referrals using other people’s identities is not recommended.
34. What about places that advertise as “Self-Referral services”?
You need to verify what the service actually means.
Some companies use the term “self-referral” as a marketing term, while in reality, they are:
Paying back commissions to users under an official affiliate account
This structure might technically not be self-referral.
Conversely, if they actually have you:
Create your own affiliate account and connect your other accounts under it
this could conflict with self-referral regulations.
Therefore, you should look at the actual account structure, not the name.
35. Questions to verify a self-referral service
Asking the following questions makes it easy to understand the structure.
1.
Do I become an affiliate?
2.
Do I register myself as my own referral?
3.
Do I need to create a separate new account?
4.
Does it require separate KYC?
5.
Does it require using a VPN or a different device?
6.
Is it an official exchange feature?
7.
Is the payback received directly from the exchange or paid by an external company?
Especially:
“Create another KYC and connect via VPN.”
If there is guidance like this, you need to approach it very cautiously.
36. What if I am already using a self-referral structure?
First, it is best not to add any new abusive activity.
And:
- Check current referral relationship
- Check affiliate/referral terms
- Check unreceived rewards
- Verify actual account owner
- Contact exchange customer support
You can check in this order.
The important thing is not to:
- Create more accounts
- Change KYC
- Artificially create transaction history
to hide the existing situation.
37. Can I add a referral code to an existing account?
Policies vary by exchange.
Starting June 2026, Bybit provides an official feature that allows existing accounts meeting certain conditions to add an affiliate invitation code within 14 days of registration.
Conditions include:
- Main account
- Within 14 days of registration
- No existing affiliate/referral relationship
- Only Bybit affiliate codes allowed
- Excludes market maker/institutional accounts
- Meets regulatory conditions
etc.
Therefore, you do not necessarily have to create a new account to receive referral benefits.
38. If a Bybit referral is already registered, can it be changed?
According to current official Bybit guidance, once an affiliate code has been added, the registered invitation code cannot be canceled or changed.
Therefore, it is not a structure where you can freely switch to a different affiliate code on an account that already has a referral relationship.
39. Can I change my referral using KYC Transfer?
KYC transfer and referral relationships should be viewed separately.
Bybit provides an identity transfer feature, but it does not describe it as a feature to bypass existing referral relationships or create self-referrals.
Therefore, using KYC transfer as:
“A workaround to create a new account and attach it to the desired referral”
is not recommended.
40. The safest way to use referrals
It is not complicated.
New users
Check the official referral/affiliate link or code you want when signing up for the first time.
Users who missed it right after signing up
Check if the exchange officially supports after-signup code binding.
Existing users
Check with official support if the existing referral relationship can be changed.
Users who want to operate multiple strategies
Check the official subaccount feature instead of creating a new main account.
This method is the clearest.
41. When using CoinPop referrals
CoinPop provides information and referral links related to Bybit and Bitget.
Bybit
Bitget
However, using a CoinPop link does not guarantee:
100% account safety
0% self-referral risk
Permanent maximum fee discount
It is not appropriate to guarantee such expressions.
Actual benefits should be verified based on the current conditions displayed on the sign-up screen and the exchange account.
42. Difference between CoinPop path and self-referral
In CoinPop’s normal affiliate structure:
CoinPop → Independent user
a referral relationship is created.
This is structurally different from self-referral, where a user creates their own separate account to refer themselves.
Therefore, the key advantage of CoinPop is:
“The best discount unconditionally”
but rather
The fact that it uses an official referral/affiliate structure
is more accurate.
43. Is an official referral code unconditionally safe?
Even if the referral code itself is official, if the user engages in:
- Multi-account reward farming
- Wash trading
- Self-referral
- Fake accounts
- Market manipulation
etc., problems may arise.
Therefore:
Used an official code = All activity is automatically allowed.
is not the meaning.
You must follow the exchange’s overall account and reward policy.
44. Comparison of self-referral and payback
| Item | Normal Official Rebate | External Payback | Self-Referral |
|---|---|---|---|
| Actual different referee | O | O | If X |
| Exchange affiliate based | O | Usually O | Can be O in form |
| Refund to user | Possible | Possible | User recovers commission |
| External payment entity | None/Low | Yes | None or self |
| Referral abuse risk | Low | Depends on structure | Can be high |
| Multiple accounts needed | X | X | Often used |
| Check exchange policy | Necessary | Necessary | Absolutely necessary |
45. One sentence to distinguish self-referral from normal payback
To summarize most simply:
Another affiliate inviting me and returning part of the commission is payback, while me creating myself as a new referee to receive commission is self-referral.
The two structures are not the same.
46. Self-Referral FAQ
Q1. Is self-referral illegal?
You must distinguish between violation of exchange policy and legal illegality.
The core covered in this article is the Bybit/Bitget referral/affiliate program regulations.
Self-referral may conflict with an exchange’s reward/affiliate policy, but it cannot be concluded that it has the same legal meaning in all countries.
Q2. Will my account be suspended if I do self-referral?
One cannot say “always.”
Depending on the exchange and program, measures such as reward cancellation, commission forfeiture, affiliate status revocation, and account review are possible, and some programs also specify the possibility of suspension or termination.
Q3. Does Bitget prohibit self-referral?
Bitget’s official affiliate guidance states that referrals originating from the same IP or device may be treated as self-referrals, and measures such as loss of reward eligibility are possible.
Q4. Does Bybit prohibit self-referral?
Bybit’s latest campaign rules specify self-referral, multi-account, and wash trading as abusive activity and guide measures such as reward cancellation or participant disqualification.
Bybit’s general referral FAQ also explains that if fraudulent/abusive activity is discovered, you cannot receive referral rewards.
Q5. Is giving a referral code to family also self-referral?
If the family member is an actual separate user, it cannot be concluded as self-referral simply because they are family.
However, if one person actually operates an account under someone else’s name to generate commission, the situation may change.
Q6. Can I do self-referral if I use a VPN?
Using a VPN does not resolve the issue of referral policy violation.
If the referral relationship is actually yourself, changing the internet connection path does not change the structure.
Q7. Can I use a different mobile phone?
For the same reason, it is not recommended.
Bitget mentions the same device as a risk signal, but using a different device does not change self-referral into a normal referral.
Q8. Is external payback also self-referral?
No.
If the affiliate and the user are actually different entities, it is a general affiliate payback structure.
Q9. Will my account be suspended if I receive payback?
Normal referral/rebate itself cannot be generalized as a reason for account suspension.
Both Bybit and Bitget operate official referral/affiliate commission structures.
Q10. Can I set user rebates in Bitget official affiliate?
For eligible accounts, you can set user rebate options for referral links through the affiliate portal. The actual scope may vary depending on affiliate tier, region, product, etc.
Q11. Can I add an affiliate code to an existing Bybit account?
It is currently possible under certain conditions.
You must be within 14 days of registration, have no existing affiliate/referral relationship, and meet conditions such as having a main account.
Q12. Can I change an already registered Bybit affiliate code?
According to current official guidance, an affiliate code cannot be canceled or changed once added.
47. Checklist to check before considering self-referral
- Am I actually inviting a separate user?
- Am I creating my own Referral Account?
- Am I borrowing someone else’s KYC?
- Am I creating multiple Main Accounts for rewards?
- Am I engaging in wash trading to generate volume?
- Am I trying to bypass policies by using a VPN or changing devices?
- Have I checked the latest terms of the Referral Program?
- Am I confusing payback with self-referral?
- If it is an external payback, have I verified the payment entity and settlement policy?
- Have I checked if my existing account has an official code binding feature?
48. Claims to be removed from existing CoinPop articles
The previous document contained the following expressions:
“100% risk of account suspension”
“Official codes are 100% safe for accounts”
“AI tracks MAC addresses in real-time.”
“If caught, permanent withdrawal suspension is guaranteed”
“You will be blacklisted from KYC and will never be able to sign up again.”
“Recently, tens of thousands of dollars in damages are occurring one after another.”
These expressions are difficult to generalize based solely on currently published official policies.
Therefore, it is appropriate to remove them from new articles.
49. Conclusion – Do not consider payback and self-referral as the same thing
The most important conclusion is simple.
Payback and self-referral are not the same concept.
Both Bybit and Bitget operate normal referral/affiliate programs and officially provide commissions or rebates linked to the trading activity of referred users.
Therefore:
“If you receive a fee refund, your account will be suspended.”
is an overgeneralization.
What is problematic is:
- Self-referral
- Multiple account abuse
- Wash trading
- Reward farming
- Fraudulent referral
- Policy circumvention
etc.
In particular, Bitget clearly states that referrals originating from the same IP or device may be treated as self-referrals.
Bybit also reviews account status before paying out referral rewards and states that if abusive activity is confirmed, rewards cannot be received. Many recent campaigns also prohibit self-referral, wash trading, and multi-account usage.
Therefore, the safest method is not to bypass detection technology.
It is to use a normal referral relationship from the beginning.
If you are a new user, it is recommended to check the referral/affiliate code you want at the time of sign-up, and if you are an existing user, check first if there is an official after-signup code binding or account feature provided by the exchange.
Bybit currently provides a feature where main accounts without an existing referral can add an affiliate code within 14 days of sign-up under certain conditions.
Therefore, there is no need to look for bypass methods such as using new accounts, VPNs, or different KYC just to get referral benefits.
CoinPop also:
- Bybit
- Bitget
provides information based on the official referral/affiliate structure of these exchanges, and it is most accurate to confirm the actual benefits and eligibility based on the exchange screen and official policies at the time of sign-up.
Bybit
Bitget
Payback can be a way to reduce transaction costs.
However:
Rather than how much % you get back, you must first check whether the method of receiving that benefit is within the exchange’s policy.
must be checked first.
Writing standards and notices
This document was written based on official materials from the Bybit Referral/Affiliate Program and the Bitget Affiliate Program as of August 2026. The Bybit Referral FAQ was updated as of the end of May 2026, and the Bitget affiliate-related policy was also verified based on 2026 data.
Referral, affiliate, reward, and account policies may vary depending on region, account type, campaign, and timing. The conditions actually applied to your account must be verified based on the latest terms and account screen of each exchange.
This document does not provide methods to bypass the exchange’s fraud detection system. We do not recommend methods that avoid referral rules by using VPNs, other people’s names, or multiple accounts.
Affiliate Notice: CoinPop may participate in the referral/affiliate programs of some cryptocurrency exchanges and may receive a commission if a sign-up or transaction occurs through a CoinPop link. Actual user benefits should be verified based on the current referral/rebate conditions displayed on the exchange.
Risk Notice: Cryptocurrency and derivatives trading involves risks, including loss of principal and forced liquidation. Referral commissions, rebates, or paybacks do not prevent investment losses or guarantee profits.
