In a strategic move to enhance market liquidity and refine the overall trading experience, OKX has announced upcoming adjustments to the tick sizes across select spot, margin, and perpetual swap trading pairs. These changes will be implemented in two phases on April 18 and April 25, 2024, during a designated maintenance window from 7:00 am to 9:00 am (UTC).
The adjustment aims to streamline pricing precision, reduce slippage, and support more efficient order execution—benefiting both retail and institutional traders. Whether you're actively trading spot markets or leveraging perpetual futures, understanding these changes is crucial for maintaining optimal trading performance.
What Is a Tick Size?
Before diving into the specifics, it's important to clarify what a tick size means in digital asset trading. The tick size refers to the smallest price increment at which a trading pair can move. For example, a tick size of 0.01 means prices can only change in multiples of 0.01 (e.g., $10.00 → $10.01). Adjusting tick sizes impacts how precisely traders can place orders and how tightly prices are quoted across the order book.
Smaller tick sizes allow for finer pricing, while larger ones simplify price levels—each serving different market conditions and user needs.
👉 Discover how optimized tick sizes can improve your trading accuracy and execution speed.
Phase 1: April 18, 2024 – Refined Pricing for Greater Precision
On April 18, 2024, OKX will adjust tick sizes for several perpetual and spot trading pairs to smaller decimal values, enabling more granular price control. This change supports tighter spreads and enhanced price discovery, particularly beneficial in high-volatility environments.
Affected Trading Pairs (April 18):
Perpetual Swaps:
- AGLD/USDT (0.001 → 0.0001)
- ALPHA/USDT (0.0001 → 0.00001)
- APE/USDT (0.001 → 0.0001)
Spot & Margin Markets:
- CGL/USDT, EM/USDT, ICE/USDT, IQ/USDT, OMI/USDT (increased decimal precision)
- DOT/BTC, FIL/BTC, XRP/BTC (tick size reduced for BTC-denominated pairs)
- EURT/USDT, LBR/USDT, XLM/USDT (improved USDT pair granularity)
Notably, no trading suspension will occur during this phase. All adjustments will be applied seamlessly without interrupting market access.
Phase 2: April 25, 2024 – Rounding Up for Simplicity
On April 25, 2024, OKX will shift focus toward simplification by increasing tick sizes (i.e., rounding up to fewer decimals) for various spot/margin pairs. During this transition, each affected pair will undergo a brief 2-minute trading suspension to ensure smooth implementation.
Key Adjustments (April 25):
- APT/USDC & APT/USDT: 0.0001 → 0.001
- AR/USDC: 0.001 → 0.01
- BTC-related pairs (BTC/BRL, BTC/EUR, WBTC/USDT): Tick size increases from 0.1 to 1
- ETH pairs (ETH/BRL, ETH/EUR): From 0.01 to 0.1
- Micro-cap tokens (SATS/USDT, SHIB/EUR): Decimal rounding for better readability and usability
Each pair will be suspended sequentially between 7:00 am and 7:55 am UTC, with only a two-minute pause per pair. All other trading pairs remain fully operational during this time.
👉 Stay ahead of market changes with real-time updates and advanced trading tools.
How Will Your Orders Be Affected?
Understanding how existing orders are handled during tick size adjustments is essential to avoid unintended cancellations or execution issues.
Case 1: Tick Size Increased (e.g., from 0.0001 to 0.01)
When moving to a larger tick size:
- Limit orders with price precision exceeding the new tick size will be automatically canceled.
- Orders within the new tick boundaries remain valid.
- Example: An order at
130.2442under a previous tick size of0.0001will be canceled when the new tick size becomes0.01.
For trading bots:
- Grid and DCA bots will cancel all open orders and pause execution.
- Other bots (TWAP, Iceberg, Smart Portfolio, etc.) will cancel open orders but continue running after resumption with updated tick logic.
Case 2: Tick Size Decreased (e.g., from 0.01 to 0.0001)
When moving to a smaller tick size:
- All existing orders remain active and are automatically aligned with the new precision.
- No manual intervention is required.
- Enhanced pricing flexibility allows tighter order placement.
Note: These rules apply uniformly to both manual traders and API-based strategies.
Handling of Historical and Open Orders
After adjustment:
- For increased tick sizes, non-API users will see historical and open orders displayed using the rounded-down buy prices and rounded-up sell prices.
- API users retain visibility of original order values pre-adjustment.
- For decreased tick sizes, all order history maintains its original formatting.
Traders using automated systems should ensure their APIs handle rounding logic correctly to prevent mismatches.
Risk Management & Trading Continuity
While most changes are designed for minimal disruption, temporary suspensions on April 25 mean you cannot:
- Place, modify, or cancel orders
- Transfer funds related to affected pairs
during the exact suspension window for each pair.
However:
- Positions remain secure.
- Margin requirements and liquidation risks are unaffected.
- Trading resumes automatically after the two-minute adjustment period.
👉 Maximize your trading resilience with built-in risk controls and precision tools.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Why is OKX adjusting tick sizes?
A: To improve market liquidity, reduce price fragmentation, and enhance trade execution efficiency across spot, margin, and perpetual swap markets.
Q: Will my open positions be liquidated during the adjustment?
A: No. Position values, margin levels, and liquidation thresholds remain unchanged during tick size updates.
Q: Do I need to manually close or adjust my orders?
A: If your limit order uses a price that exceeds the new tick precision (e.g., four decimals when only two are allowed), it will be canceled automatically. Review your active orders before April 25.
Q: Are perpetual swaps included in the April 25 changes?
A: No. Only spot and margin pairs are affected on April 25. Perpetual swaps were updated on April 18 with no service interruption.
Q: How does this affect API traders?
A: API-placed orders follow the same cancellation rules. However, historical data displays original tick values. Systems should account for automatic rounding on order entry post-adjustment.
Q: Can I still trade other pairs during the maintenance window?
A: Yes. Only the specific pairs listed are paused for two minutes each. All other markets operate normally.
Final Notes
These strategic tick size adjustments reflect OKX’s ongoing commitment to delivering a robust, user-centric trading environment. By balancing precision with usability, OKX supports evolving market demands while minimizing friction for global traders.
Stay informed, review your active strategies, and prepare accordingly for a smoother trading experience in 2025 and beyond.
Core Keywords: tick size adjustment, spot trading, margin trading, perpetual swaps, market liquidity, trading bots, order execution, digital asset trading