What is a Bybit Subaccount and why should you use it?

What is a Bybit Subaccount and why should you use it?

Meta description: Learn about Bybit Subaccounts, their main types and the steps to create a Standard Subaccount.

Subaccounts let you separate fund allocations, trading activities and performance tracking under a single Main Account. Instead of mixing all positions and balances in one place, you can assign each purpose its own space and review its results independently. On Bybit, you can choose among self-managed, AI-operated and specialist account types, depending upon who you want to operate the account. 

In this article, we explain what a Bybit Subaccount is, how each Subaccount type works, how to create a Standard Subaccount and which permissions and restrictions apply to these various account types.

Key Takeaways:

• Subaccounts help you organize your funds and trading activity under a Main Account, with separate balances and performance tracking.

• Standard, AI, Custodial Trading and Islamic Subaccounts are the four main Bybit Subaccount types, each serving a different purpose.

• Access, permissions, transfers and eligible products depend upon the account type that you choose.

What is a Bybit Subaccount?

A Bybit Subaccount operates under your Main Account and provides separate account balances and performance tracking. You can use a dedicated Subaccount to keep fund allocations and trading activity separate while keeping everything linked to the same Main Account. Each Subaccount keeps its own balances. Therefore, you can review its results without mixing them with those of other Subaccounts.

The Main Account maintains overall management authority, while the Subaccount executes specific trading activities. This structure gives you one account for oversight, and separate accounts for each dedicated activity or strategy.

Note that the separate fund allocation structure of Subaccounts does not guarantee protection from financial losses or underperformance. Any Subaccount can produce losses as easily as a poorly managed Main Account.

Please note that your Unified Trading Account (UTA) is an underlying account and trading vehicle used as a primary account type, not as an alternative to a Subaccount. 

Types of Bybit Subaccounts

Standard Subaccount

Standard Subaccounts are designed for self-managed trading with separate allocations and independent performance tracking. Features include account switching, optional independent login credentials and API key support. Newly created Standard Subaccounts use the Unified Trading Account (UTA) structure by default.

Creating and maintaining a Standard Subaccount incurs no fee, and fund transfers between your Main Account and Standard Subaccounts are also fee-free. Standard Subaccounts inherit the trading-fee tier discounts of the Main Account, so your existing tier rates apply to them. You retain control of trading activity in each Standard Subaccount, while the Main Account retains overall management authority.

AI Subaccount

An AI Subaccount provides a dedicated environment for a connected AI agent to execute supported trading actions via API access. The agent operates within that environment under your Main Account. This setup keeps AI-driven activity within its own contained account.

AI Subaccounts differ from Standard Subaccounts by enforcing additional permission controls, asset caps and leverage limits. These controls set the boundaries inside which your AI agent can act. Think of it as a separate workspace for your automated, AI-driven trading activity. The agent connects via API access, executes only supported trading actions and operates within the permission controls, asset caps and leverage limits enforced within the account.

Existing Subaccounts cannot be converted into AI Subaccounts. If you want to use an AI agent, you must create a new AI Subaccount.

Your AI Subaccount’s access and ongoing monitoring are managed from the Main Account. Asset caps and permission controls don’t eliminate trading losses or prevent unsuitable AI actions. Therefore, it’s necessary to monitor the Subaccount from your Main Account on a consistent basis. Review and adjust its permission controls, asset caps and leverage settings before you connect an agent. 

Custodial Trading Subaccount

Custodial Trading Subaccounts facilitate a managed relationship whereby a trading team executes strategies via API on behalf of an investor. Under the documented arrangement, investors cannot personally execute trades or view order and trade history within a Custodial Trading Subaccount.

Investment terms and agreements are negotiated directly between the investor and the trading team. Bybit doesn’t directly manage investor funds or guarantee trading team performance. If you invest through this account type, you rely on the trading team for execution and on your agreement with them for specific terms.

Islamic Subaccount

Islamic Subaccounts provide access to Shariah-compliant trading products. Supported features include selected Spot assets and designated Spot trading bots. Eligibility depends upon the selected assets and designated bots, so check which assets and bots the account supports before planning any activity. If you want Shariah-compliant trading, this account type gives you dedicated access to eligible products.

Comparing Bybit Subaccount types

The table below compares the four Subaccount types by operator and control:

A key difference between the above Subaccount types is who operates the account. You run a Standard Subaccount yourself, an AI agent runs an AI Subaccount, a trading team runs a Custodial Trading Subaccount and an Islamic Subaccount gives you access to eligible Shariah-compliant products.while a trading team runs a Custodial Trading Subaccount. You also run an Islamic Subaccount yourself, with access to eligible Shariah-compliant products.

Creating and managing a Standard Subaccount

On the Bybit App

To create a Standard Subaccount on the Bybit App, follow the steps below:

1. Tap on your user icon in the top-left corner of the homescreen.



2.Tap on the account switch icon in the top-right corner.





3.Tap on Create.



4.Enter the Subaccount name, select Standard as Subaccount type and tap on Create.



5.Provide the verification code sent to your email/mobile to enable the account.

Use the account switch icon to switch between the Main Account and a Subaccount. Fund transfer options are accessible through the Assets → Transfer → Across Subaccount(s) navigation route.

On the Bybit website

To create a Standard Subaccount on the website, follow the steps below:

1.Hover over your user icon, then click on Subaccount.

2.Click on Create Subaccount in the top-right corner of the screen.



3.Choose Standard Subaccount.



4.Enter a name for your Subaccount, then click on Confirm.



5.Provide the verification code sent to your email/mobile to enable the account.

Use the Switch/Create Account option from the user icon menu to move between the Main Account and your Subaccounts. The Transfer button next to Create Subaccount (Step 2 directly above) can be used for internal fund transfers when you need to move funds between accounts. Meanwhile, the Transfer History button on the same page lets you view your past fund transfers between your Main Account and Subaccounts.

Keep in mind that Standard Subaccounts inherit the trading-fee tier discounts of the Main Account, so your fee tier carries over to every Standard Subaccount you create.

Permissions, transfers and Subaccount restrictions

Access rights and transfer permissions vary depending upon the specific account type and the login method you select. Check these settings before you rely on a Subaccount for a particular task. Treat each account type as having its own rules — so don’t assume that settings from one apply to another.

Internal fund transfers between accounts differ from external deposits and withdrawals. An internal transfer moves funds between your accounts on the platform, while an external deposit or withdrawal moves funds between the Bybit platform and external environments, such as your bank accounts or blockchain wallets.

Campaign eligibility and reward transfers follow specific account rules. Claiming rewards directly differs from receiving transferred rewards, so be sure to check the account rules in advance.

Participation of Standard Subaccounts in trading competitions is governed by the rules of each event. Review the rules for each event to see whether your Subaccount can participate.

Because access, permissions, transfers and eligible products depend upon the account type, be sure to choose the account type that matches how you plan to use it.

Bybit Subaccount FAQ

1. How many Standard Subaccounts can I create under one Main Account? As an individual non-VIP user, you can create up to 5 Standard Subaccounts. VIP and Institutional users can create up to 20 Standard Subaccounts.

2. Do my VIP fee discounts apply to Standard Subaccounts get my VIP fee discounts? Yes. Standard Subaccounts inherit the VIP trading-fee discounts of the Main Account.

3. Can a Subaccount directly receive/accommodate external deposits and withdrawals directly? No. Subaccounts cannot be used to receive external deposits or make withdrawals. You will first need to use the internal transfer function to move the funds between your Main Account and Subaccount, as only the Main Account supports external transfers.

4. Does creating a Standard Subaccount cost anything? No. Creating and maintaining a Standard Subaccount incurs no fee, and transfers between it and your Main Account are also fee-free.

The bottom line

Subaccounts give you distinct structures for your trading activity, including the choice of who operates the account: you for Standard and Islamic Subaccounts, an AI agent for AI Subaccounts and a trading team for Custodial Trading Subaccounts. Create your Standard Subaccount today, or read our guide to AI Subaccounts if you’re interested in themis type of account.