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DATA · BINANCE SPOT OHLCV TIMING

Binance Spot OHLCV: Event Time vs Retrieval Time

Binance spot klines carry an open time and a close time. The last kline in a response is usually still open — its close time is in the future.

By ChartsPod Editorial Team · Reviewed by ChartsPod Research
Published · Updated · 5 min read

Short answer

Binance spot klines are 12-field arrays starting with open time and including close time; a kline is identified by its open time, and a timeZone parameter can shift interval boundaries. The most recent kline in a response is typically the live, unfinished bar: its close time is later than your retrieval time and its values will change. Record retrieval time, drop or flag klines whose close time is after it, and fix the timeZone setting.

Which times the data carries

TimePresent?Meaning
Open timeYesKline identity
Close timeYesEnd of interval
Retrieval timeNoRecord it
timeZone paramRequestShifts boundaries

Compare Binance Spot OHLCV across Binance, Bybit, OKX and Hyperliquid markets.

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What to record yourself

Field to storeWhy
retrieved_atLive-bar detection
open timeKey
close timeCompleteness check
timeZone usedBoundary definition
intervalBar size
Binance Spot Ohlcv: a stored recordBinance Spot Ohlcv: a stored record: retrieved_at — Live-bar detection; open time — Key; close time — Completeness check; timeZone used — Boundary definition; interval — Bar size.retrieved_atLive-bar detectionopen timeKeyclose timeCompleteness checktimeZone usedBoundary definitionintervalBar size
Every binance spot ohlcv row carries its own clock. Original ChartsPod editorial graphic.

Example

Binance Spot Ohlcv: event vs retrieval (illustrative)Binance Spot Ohlcv: event vs retrieval (illustrative): 13:59:59.999: 1H close time; 13:42: You request klines; LAST ROW: Close time > retrieval; ACTION: Flag as live.13:59:59.9991H close time13:42You request klinesLAST ROWClose time > retrievalACTIONFlag as live
Two clocks, one record. Original ChartsPod editorial graphic.

Illustrative: a daily dataset stored at 13:42 includes today's kline with only 13 hours of data; treated as complete, it shows an artificially small range.

Related: Binance Perpetual OHLCV: Event Time vs Retrieval Time, Binance Perpetual OHLCV: Null vs Zero - Handle Missing Fields Correctly.

Record retrieval time, drop or flag klines whose close time is after it, and fix the timeZone setting.

Check Binance Spot OHLCV against a live market before relying on it.

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Questions readers ask

How is a Binance kline identified?

By its open time.

Is the last kline complete?

Usually not; compare close time with retrieval time.

What does timeZone change?

Interval boundaries.

Sources and methodology

Field definitions come from DEX Screener's API reference and CoinGecko's onchain API documentation, read 17 October 2026. Where a schema doesn't document a timestamp, this guide says so and recommends recording retrieval time yourself.

  1. Binance Spot API: market data endpoints (klines) — 12-field klines, open-time identity, timeZone parameter.

This article explains research tools and workflows. It is not financial advice, does not recommend buying or selling any asset and does not predict prices. Crypto derivatives carry a risk of rapid and total loss of margin.

CHARTSPOD EDITORIAL EDITION · RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ONLY · NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE.