In April 2025, Binance announced upcoming changes to the request weight limits for several of its REST API endpoints. These adjustments, effective April 28, 2025, at 8:00 AM Hong Kong time, aim to optimize server performance, ensure fair usage across developers, and maintain platform stability during periods of high trading volume.
This update impacts key endpoints used by traders, algorithmic systems, and third-party applications that rely on real-time account and order data. Understanding these changes is essential for API users to avoid rate limit errors and ensure uninterrupted access to critical trading functions.
Key API Endpoint Changes
Below is a detailed breakdown of the affected endpoints and their updated request weight values:
- GET /api/v3/order
Request weight increased from 1 to 2 - GET /api/v3/openOrder
Request weight increased from 1 to 3 - GET /api/v3/allOrders
Jumped from 5 to 10 - GET /api/v3/orderList
Doubled from 1 to 2 - GET /api/v3/openOrderList
Increased from 2 to 3 - GET /api/v3/account
Doubled from 5 to 10 - GET /api/v3/myTrades
Increased from 5 to 10 - GET /api/v3/exchangeInfo
Significantly increased from 1 to 10
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These updates reflect Binance’s ongoing efforts to balance system load while maintaining high availability. The /exchangeInfo endpoint, now ten times heavier, likely accounts for its frequent use in client initialization and symbol configuration retrieval, which can generate substantial backend queries.
Why Are API Weights Increasing?
API request weights determine how much "cost" each call incurs against a user’s rate limit quota. Higher-weighted endpoints consume more server resources or return larger datasets, justifying stricter throttling.
The rationale behind these adjustments includes:
- System Stability: Preventing overload during market volatility.
- Fair Usage: Discouraging excessive polling by automated systems.
- Resource Allocation: Ensuring compute-intensive endpoints don’t degrade overall performance.
- Scalability Preparation: Aligning with growing user demand and expanding service offerings.
Developers who rely on frequent polling—especially those using /account, /myTrades, or /allOrders—will need to revise their request frequency strategies to stay within allowed thresholds.
Impact on Developers and Trading Bots
For developers building trading bots, portfolio trackers, or analytics dashboards, these changes require immediate attention:
- Rate Limit Reassessment: With higher weights, fewer requests are permitted per minute. For example, if an endpoint previously allowed 20 calls per minute at weight 5 (total limit of 1,200 weight units), now only 60 such calls (at weight 10) can be made under the same cap.
- Polling Optimization: Reduce unnecessary requests by implementing smarter logic—such as caching responses or using WebSocket streams for real-time updates instead of repeated REST calls.
- Error Handling: Monitor for
429 Too Many Requestsresponses and implement exponential backoff strategies. - Migration to WebSockets: Where possible, switch to Binance’s WebSocket APIs for live order book, trade, and account updates. This reduces reliance on high-cost REST endpoints.
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Best Practices for Managing API Rate Limits
To adapt successfully to the new weight structure, consider the following strategies:
1. Use WebSockets for Real-Time Data
Replace frequent REST calls with WebSocket subscriptions for:
- Order updates
- Account balance changes
- Market price movements
This approach minimizes server load and improves response latency.
2. Implement Local Caching
Cache static or slowly changing data like exchangeInfo locally. Since this endpoint now carries a weight of 10, fetching it repeatedly wastes quota.
3. Batch Requests Strategically
Combine related queries into fewer, well-timed calls. For instance, retrieve all open orders once every few seconds rather than making individual requests per symbol.
4. Monitor Your Usage
Track your API consumption using response headers:
X-MBX-USED-WEIGHT: Current weight used in the last minuteX-MBX-ORDER-COUNT: Number of orders placedRetry-After: Time to wait after hitting a limit
5. Adopt Asynchronous Processing
Use async workflows to queue non-critical requests and avoid burst traffic that triggers throttling.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is API request weight?
API request weight is a throttling mechanism used by exchanges like Binance to measure the resource cost of each API call. Each endpoint has a predefined weight; users are limited by a total weight allowance per minute.
Why did Binance increase the weight for /exchangeInfo?
The /exchangeInfo endpoint returns comprehensive data about trading pairs, rate limits, filters, and symbols. Due to its complexity and backend processing demands, increasing its weight helps prevent abuse and ensures system stability.
How can I avoid hitting rate limits?
Reduce polling frequency, use WebSockets for live updates, cache responses locally, and monitor your X-MBX-USED-WEIGHT header values to stay within safe thresholds.
Do these changes affect spot and futures trading equally?
Yes, the listed endpoints are part of the core REST API and apply to both spot and margin trading. Futures APIs may have separate rate limits but follow similar principles.
Can I get a higher rate limit as a high-volume trader?
Binance does not publicly offer personalized rate limit increases. However, VIP users may experience slightly more lenient thresholds. The best approach remains optimizing your integration logic regardless of tier.
Are there alternatives to Binance’s REST API?
Yes, many developers use WebSocket streams or third-party data providers for lower-latency access. Some also distribute load across multiple accounts or leverage exchange platforms with flexible API policies.
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Final Thoughts
Binance’s adjustment of REST API request weights underscores the importance of efficient API design in high-performance trading environments. While these changes may initially disrupt some integrations, they ultimately support a more stable and scalable ecosystem for all users.
Developers should act proactively—review current implementations, optimize request patterns, and consider migrating to real-time streaming solutions where applicable. Staying ahead of such updates ensures uninterrupted operation and enhances long-term reliability of trading systems.
By embracing best practices in rate limit management and data retrieval efficiency, users can continue leveraging Binance’s powerful infrastructure without compromising performance or compliance.