TLDR
- OKX launched OKX Shield in the US on October 20, 2026, a month after its European debut.
- Coverage reaches $100,000 for regular users, $250,000 for VIP 1 to VIP 3, and $500,000 for VIP 4 to VIP 6.
- It covers phishing, malware and SIM swap account takeovers, but reimbursement is discretionary.
- Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, an OKX board director, called the program a sign of trust.
- California’s attorney general said $11.4 billion was lost to crypto scams in 2025.
OKX has brought its Shield program to the United States. The crypto exchange announced the launch on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
America, we’ve got your back.
Today we announced the US launch of OKX Shield, a new account-protection program that backs eligible customers with up to $500K in protection against qualifying unauthorized account takeovers. No extra cost.
Learn more on our blog ⬇
— OKX (@okx) October 21, 2026
The program offers account protection for users whose accounts are compromised. Coverage carries no subscription or activation fee.
How OKX Shield Works
Shield is a tiered reimbursement plan for unauthorized account takeovers. Covered incidents include phishing, malware attacks and SIM swaps.
A SIM swap happens when a criminal convinces a mobile carrier to move a phone number to a new device. The criminal can then intercept text message codes that protect accounts.
Coverage depends on a user’s VIP tier. Regular users may receive up to $100,000. Users in tiers VIP 1 to VIP 3 may receive up to $250,000.
Users in tiers VIP 4 to VIP 6 can receive up to $500,000. Most retail customers would fall in the regular category.
The reimbursement is discretionary. This means OKX decides whether to pay a claim and is not contractually required to do so.
Users must also turn on certain security measures. These include Passkey features and multi-factor authentication.
What Is Not Covered
The program excludes transactions that the user authorized. It also leaves out trading losses and problems tied to API keys.
OKX allows only one approved claim per verified identity. That limit applies across all OKX entities.
Cuomo Says It Builds Trust
Andrew Cuomo joined the OKX board of directors in July. He spoke to reporters on a call about the launch.
“Why should you trust OKX?” Cuomo said. “Because OKX trusts OKX’s system, and they’re putting their money right next to your money.”
Cuomo also said OKX is moving from a crypto company to a global financial technology company. He said the line between traditional finance and crypto has dissolved.
In June, OKX and New York Stock Exchange parent Intercontinental Exchange formed a 50-50 joint venture. Cuomo co-chairs it, and it aims to build infrastructure for tokenized and digitally native financial products.
Scam Losses Continue
OKX says it serves more than 150 million customers worldwide. The launch follows rising concern over crypto scams.
On Monday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said $11.4 billion was lost to crypto scams in 2025. He urged residents to watch for scams involving artificial intelligence and rug pulls.
OKX first launched Shield in the European Economic Area on September 22, 2026, with similar terms. The US launch came on October 20, 2026.
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