Overseas crypto exchanges advertise a "sign-up bonus" or "deposit bonus" using terms similar to those used by overseas FX brokers' bonuses, but the mechanics are very different. What many exchanges distribute is trading-only funds called a "futures bonus": it can be used as margin but cannot be withdrawn or transferred, and it comes with conditions such as forfeiting the remaining balance if assets are moved out of the futures account. Without knowing this, assuming that "opening an account gets you a few thousand yen" sets up a mismatch between expectation and reality.
This article organises how the futures bonus, position airdrop, and fee voucher work, as officially explained by MEXC, one of the exchanges listed on this site, and summarises the key points of the limited-time campaign confirmed as of 22 September 2026 (MEXC's "Autumn Harvest Festival deposit campaign", until 4 October) and the points to check before claiming a bonus (KYC, eligible countries, expiry, forfeiture conditions, and tax). Since ongoing exchange perks, including at BingX, are event-based and their content changes frequently, this site does not list amounts and instead guides you on how to check the official pages.
Types of sign-up bonuses at overseas crypto exchanges
Perks at overseas exchanges generally fall into five types, depending on the conditions to receive them and how they can be used. Names vary by exchange, but they are easiest to sort out by three points: whether it can be withdrawn as cash, what it can be used for, and when it is forfeited.
| Type | Example conditions to receive | Use / withdrawal |
|---|---|---|
| New-user task rewards (the so-called sign-up bonus) | Completing tasks such as registration, identity verification (KYC), a first deposit, or a first trade | Usually granted as a futures bonus or voucher and cannot be withdrawn as is |
| Deposit bonus / deposit campaign | Depositing at least a set amount during the campaign period (often judged by net deposit) | Granted as a futures bonus. Profit can be withdrawn; the bonus itself cannot |
| Token airdrop | Meeting conditions such as deposit or trading activity | If granted as spot holdings, it may be possible to sell or withdraw it (depends on each event's terms) |
| Fee voucher | Completing tasks / participating in the event | Can only be used to offset trading fees. Not withdrawable |
| Referral code perks | Registering with a referral code entered | Fee discounts or an add-on to the perks above. The same treatment applies via this site's referral link |
※ This classification is organised by this site. Each exchange's own event terms take precedence for the actual conditions.
How the futures bonus works: usable as margin, but not withdrawable or transferable (per MEXC's official explanation)
MEXC explains how the futures bonus, position airdrop, and voucher work on its official learning page (confirmed 22 September 2026). As a typical example of how a "bonus" works at an overseas exchange, the key points are as follows.
| Item | Futures bonus | Position airdrop | Fee voucher |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it can be used for | Margin for futures trading (applied when the USDT balance is insufficient) | A position distributed through the event | Only to offset futures trading fees |
| Withdrawal / transfer | Not possible | Not possible (only profit after closing the position can be withdrawn) | Not possible |
| Withdrawing profit | Profit earned from trades using the bonus can be withdrawn | Profit earned after closing the position can be withdrawn | Not applicable |
| Forfeiture conditions | Automatically forfeited when it expires. Withdrawing assets from the futures wallet forfeits any remaining futures bonus | Losses are limited to the amount of funds distributed | Automatically reclaimed when it expires |
※ Source: MEXC, "How to Use Futures Bonus, Position Airdrop and Voucher" (official, confirmed 22 September 2026). Other exchanges commonly use a similar structure where a bonus can be used as margin and only the profit can be withdrawn, but check each exchange's own terms for the exact conditions.
After receiving a futures bonus, it is a common condition that transferring assets from the futures account to the spot account, or withdrawing them, before the bonus is fully used forfeits the entire remaining bonus. If you want to withdraw profit from the bonus, you need to check the bonus balance and expiry date before moving any assets. Also, futures trades that use the bonus as margin carry the same forced-liquidation loss risk as ordinary trading.
Leverage and forced liquidation, explained (beginner guide) →
An example confirmed in September 2026: MEXC's "Autumn Harvest Festival deposit campaign" (until 4 October)
As of 22 September 2026, the limited-time campaign this site has confirmed on the official event page and organised the conditions and cautions for is MEXC's Autumn Harvest Festival deposit campaign. The key points are as follows; check this site's campaign page and the official event page for details.
- Campaign period: 4 September 2026, 00:00 – 4 October 2026, 23:59 (as displayed on the official event page; no time zone is stated). Rewards are capped and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis
- Eligibility: Japan-based users only. You must click "Join now" on the event page and then deposit into your futures account during the period (internal transfers do not count). Advanced KYC verification is required
- New users: a net deposit of $100 earns a 50 USDT token airdrop. Net deposits from $1,000 to $100,000 earn tiered futures bonuses (up to 2,000 USDT in total)
- Existing users: net deposits from $1,000 to $100,000 earn tiered futures bonuses (up to 1,000 USDT in total)
- The futures bonus expires 7 days after it is granted. Moving assets out of the futures account before it is fully used forfeits the entire bonus. Rewards are distributed within 14 days after the event ends
List of overseas crypto exchange bonuses and campaigns →
BingX offers task-based rewards for new and existing users through its official Rewards Hub, but the content is event-based and changes from time to time, so this site does not list amounts or conditions. Check BingX's official Rewards Hub and each reward's terms before claiming.
7 things to check before claiming a bonus
- Whether Japan is included among the eligible countries. Some events are "Japan users only", while others exclude Japan. Eligibility may be checked after the event ends
- The level of identity verification (KYC) required. For events that require advanced KYC, allow time to prepare documents and for the review to be completed
- Whether an action such as clicking a "Join now" button is required before depositing or trading. Deposits made without clicking it do not count
- Whether eligibility is judged by net deposit (total deposits minus total withdrawals). Withdrawing during the period reduces the amount counted
- The bonus's expiry period (such as 7 days) and forfeiture conditions (such as forfeiture when assets are moved out of the futures account)
- Multiple accounts, accounts under someone else's name, and inflating trading data are all grounds for having the reward revoked. False KYC information is likewise grounds for revocation (MEXC's event terms)
- Tax: tokens received via an airdrop count as income at their market value at the time of receipt (National Tax Agency FAQ 1-5 and 1-7), and profit earned using the bonus as margin is also taxed as miscellaneous income
The overseas crypto exchanges listed on this site are not registered with Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) as crypto-asset exchange service providers and are outside Japan's domestic user-protection system. Whether a bonus exists, and its size, has no bearing on an exchange's safety or the protection of your assets. Avoid depositing or trading more than you intend simply to chase a reward.
Identity verification (KYC) and withdrawal limits (beginner guide) →
How this differs from overseas FX sign-up bonuses
An overseas FX broker's sign-up bonus (no-deposit bonus) works by letting you trade using credit granted to your account as margin, with profit withdrawable once conditions are met, and the amount and conditions are generally fixed by each broker. Overseas crypto exchange perks, by contrast, are event-based and change frequently: futures bonuses or vouchers are often distributed in tiers based on completing tasks (registration, KYC, deposit, trading), and offers where you simply "register and get a fixed amount" are limited. The current state of overseas FX sign-up bonuses is organised in a column on our main site.
Overseas FX no-deposit bonuses [September] (FX Textbook) →
This article is organised based on MEXC's official pages and this site's confirmed data as of 22 September 2026, and it does not recommend claiming any perk or making any deposit or trade. Exchanges may change or end an event's content or period without notice, and if there is any discrepancy between a translation and the original English text, the original English text takes precedence.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What is a sign-up bonus at an overseas crypto exchange?
A. It is a general term for perks distributed based on completing tasks such as registration, identity verification (KYC), a first deposit, or a first trade, and most are granted as a "futures bonus" or a fee voucher. A futures bonus can be used as margin but cannot be withdrawn or transferred; only profit earned from trades using the bonus can be withdrawn (per MEXC's official explanation). This differs from an overseas FX sign-up bonus, where a fixed amount is granted much like cash.
Q. Can a futures bonus be withdrawn?
A. No. Per MEXC's official explanation, a futures bonus can only be used as margin for futures trading and cannot be withdrawn or transferred; it is automatically forfeited when it expires, and withdrawing assets from the futures wallet forfeits any remaining futures bonus. Profit earned from trades using the bonus can be withdrawn.
Q. Is there an overseas crypto exchange campaign available in September 2026?
A. The one this site has confirmed on an official page and lists is MEXC's Autumn Harvest Festival deposit campaign (4 September – 4 October 2026, Japan users only, requiring event registration and advanced KYC). New users can earn a 50 USDT airdrop for a $100 net deposit plus tiered futures bonuses of up to 2,000 USDT in total, while existing users can earn tiered futures bonuses of up to 1,000 USDT in total. Check this site's campaign list for details and cautions.
Q. How much is BingX's sign-up bonus?
A. BingX offers task-based rewards for new and existing users through its official Rewards Hub, but since the content is event-based and changes from time to time, this site does not list amounts or conditions. Check BingX's official Rewards Hub and each reward's terms for the latest conditions before claiming.
Q. Are bonuses and airdrops taxed too?
A. Yes. Tokens received via an airdrop count as income at their market value at the time of receipt (per the approach in National Tax Agency FAQ 1-5 and 1-7), and profit earned using a futures bonus as margin is also subject to aggregate taxation as miscellaneous income. Check each exchange's terms and your tax office regarding the treatment of the non-withdrawable futures bonus itself.
Q. Can I just receive the sign-up bonus and withdraw it?
A. A futures bonus or voucher cannot be withdrawn as is; it is designed to be used as trading margin or to offset fees within its expiry period. If a trade using the bonus produces a profit, that profit can be withdrawn, but trading carries the risk of loss through forced liquidation. Avoid trading simply to chase a reward.
Sources
- MEXC | How to use futures bonus, position airdrops and vouchers (official Learn article, Japanese; checked 22 September 2026) →
- MEXC | Autumn Harvest Festival deposit campaign (official event page, Japanese; checked 8 September 2026) →
- BingX | Rewards Hub (new and advanced user bonus; checked 22 September 2026) →
- National Tax Agency (Japan) | Tax treatment of crypto assets, etc.: FAQ, last revised December 2025 (PDF, Japanese) →
- Financial Services Agency (Japan) | Crypto assets: registered operators, warnings to unregistered operators →
FX Textbook is an independent information site, not an exchange or a provider of personal investment advice. Crypto-asset trading involves risk: price volatility, liquidation of leveraged positions, transfer mistakes and the operational risk of exchanges and service providers can cause you to lose some or all of your invested capital. No result is guaranteed.
NEXT STEP
Before you use an exchange, check its conditions and operator information.
Operating entity, fees, leverage and liquidation, funding and KYC requirements, organised exchange by exchange.
Exchanges related to this column
Fees, leverage, funding options and current offers are on each exchange page.