How to Check Your Account Balance Using OKX API on Local Computer (Beginner-Friendly AI-Assisted Tutorial)

Prerequisites

Python 3.13
VSCode (with Python extension)

Two Methods: Manual Signing vs Python SDK

Method 1: Manual Signing

1. Set Up Development Environment

Install required library:
```
pip3 install requests
```

Verify installation:

python3 -c "import requests; print(requests.__version__)"

2. Get OKX API Keys

Log in to OKX → Profile → API → Create API Key
Set permissions: "Read Account Info" for balance checking
Note your API Key, Secret Key, and Passphrase

3. Create Workspace

Make a new folder (e.g., on Desktop)

Create Python file (okx_balance.py) with this template:

import requests
import time
import hashlib
import hmac
import base64

# Replace with your API credentials
API_KEY = "your_api_key"
SECRET_KEY = "your_secret_key"
PASSPHRASE = "your_passphrase"

def get_balance():
    url = "https://www.okx.com/join/BLOCKSTARapi/v5/account/balance"
    timestamp = str(time.time())
    message = timestamp + "GET" + "/api/v5/account/balance"
    signature = base64.b64encode(
        hmac.new(SECRET_KEY.encode(), message.encode(), hashlib.sha256).digest()
    ).decode()

    headers = {
        "OK-ACCESS-KEY": API_KEY,
        "OK-ACCESS-SIGN": signature,
        "OK-ACCESS-TIMESTAMP": timestamp,
        "OK-ACCESS-PASSPHRASE": PASSPHRASE
    }

    response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)
    return response.json()

if __name__ == "__main__":
    balance = get_balance()
    print("Current balance:", balance)

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Common Issues (Manual Signing)

1. API Key Errors (50101)

Verify permissions and character cases

2. Connection Failures (50113)

Test connectivity using OKX public endpoints first

3. Invalid Signature (50113)

Sync local time with OKX server time

Method 2: Python SDK

1. Install OKX SDK

pip3 install okx

2. Sample Code

from okx.app.account import AccountSPOT

API_KEY = "your_api_key"
SECRET_KEY = "your_secret_key"
PASSPHRASE = "your_passphrase"

account = AccountSPOT(API_KEY, SECRET_KEY, PASSPHRASE)
balance = account.get_balances()
print("Balance:", balance)

Common Issues (SDK)

1. Rust Compilation Error

Install Rust first:

curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh

2. Module Import Errors

Use correct import path:

from okx.app.account import AccountSPOT

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FAQ

Q: Which method is better for beginners?

A: Python SDK handles signatures automatically, making it easier for beginners.

Q: How often should I rotate my API keys?

A: For security, rotate keys every 3-6 months.

Q: Can I test the API without real funds?

A: Yes, use OKX's demo trading environment first.

Q: What's the rate limit for balance queries?

A: 20 requests per 2 seconds per account.

Key Takeaways

Always secure your API keys
Python SDK simplifies development
Regular error handling improves reliability

👉 Start building with OKX now