BitTrade Trading Bot in Python

This guide shows how to build a BitTrade trading bot in Python with LumiBot, for both AI agent trading and algorithmic trading. LumiBot connects to BitTrade through CCXT, the open source library that talks to more than 100 crypto exchanges. You will create a BitTrade account and API key, connect it, and run two examples: a simple algorithmic trading bot and an agentic trading bot where an AI agent makes the calls.

BitTrade at a glance

CCXT exchange id

bittrade

Markets

Spot

Testnet (sandbox)

No

Credentials

API key, API secret

Live data streams

prices, order book, trades, candles

CCXT request spacing

about 100 ms between requests

Official site

https://www.bittrade.co.jp

API docs

https://api-doc.bittrade.co.jp

Fees

https://www.bittrade.co.jp/ja-jp/support/fee

What is BitTrade?

BitTrade is a registered crypto exchange run by BitTrade Co., Ltd., with prices in Japanese yen. It offers an order-book exchange, a simple buy and sell desk, and leverage trading; its API supports the exchange and the desk but not leverage trading yet.

Sign up for BitTrade

  1. Open the account form on the BitTrade site or app, enter your email and a password, and confirm the code BitTrade emails you.

  2. Finish identity verification (本人確認) and wait for BitTrade to approve your account.

  3. Turn on two-factor authentication (SMS or Google Authenticator) under Security. BitTrade has no testnet, so plan to test with a very small amount.

Open a BitTrade account

Create a BitTrade API key

  1. Log in on a computer browser. BitTrade’s API page cannot be opened from the phone app.

  2. Go to My Page, then API, then Create API key (https://www.bittrade.co.jp/ja-jp/user/api/).

  3. Type a note (備考) so you can tell your keys apart.

  4. Add the IP address of the machine that runs your bot (up to 20). A key with no IP address set expires after 90 days.

  5. Tick the permissions (see below), then press 秘密鍵を作成 (Create secret key).

  6. Save the Access Key and Secret Key right away. BitTrade shows the Secret Key only once.

Which permissions to turn on: BitTrade has three permissions: 読取 (Read), 取引 (Trade) and 出金 (Withdraw). New keys start with Read only, so also tick Trade. Leave Withdraw off. A bot never needs to move money out of your account.

Warning

Never turn on withdrawals for a BitTrade trading bot key. Bind the key to your server’s IP address when BitTrade lets you, keep the secret out of your code and out of Git, and delete the key if it ever leaks.

Connect BitTrade to LumiBot

The simplest way: put these lines in a .env file next to your strategy. LumiBot loads the file, sees TRADING_BROKER=bittrade and connects to BitTrade for you, so your strategy needs no broker code.

TRADING_BROKER=bittrade
BITTRADE_API_KEY=your_apiKey
BITTRADE_API_SECRET=your_secret

LumiBot reads exactly the fields CCXT needs for BitTrade (apiKey, secret). If one is missing, LumiBot stops at start-up and names the variable you still need.

You can also build the broker in code. This is handy when one script talks to more than one exchange, or when you need extra CCXT options. The keys in the config are CCXT’s own credential names for BitTrade:

import os

BITTRADE_CONFIG = {
    "exchange_id": "bittrade",
    "apiKey": os.environ.get("BITTRADE_API_KEY"),
    "secret": os.environ.get("BITTRADE_API_SECRET"),
    "sandbox": False,  # no sandbox for this exchange
}

from lumibot.brokers import Ccxt

broker = Ccxt(BITTRADE_CONFIG)
# then: MyStrategy(broker=broker, ...)

Either way, LumiBot turns on CCXT’s built-in rate limiting for you.

Testing on BitTrade

BitTrade has no sandbox, and CCXT lists no test URL for it, so test with a very small amount. With environment variables, leave BITTRADE_SANDBOX unset. In a code config, set "sandbox": False.

Algorithmic trading example: a simple BitTrade bot

This bot buys about 7500 JPY of BTC on BitTrade once and then holds it. It is a starting point to check that your keys, balances and orders work. If the exchange’s minimum order is larger, raise the amount.

from lumibot.entities import Asset
from lumibot.strategies import Strategy


class BittradeBuyOnce(Strategy):
    """Buy a small amount of BTC once, then hold it."""

    def initialize(self):
        self.sleeptime = "1H"
        self.set_market("24/7")  # crypto trades all day, every day

    def on_trading_iteration(self):
        coin = Asset("BTC", asset_type=Asset.AssetType.CRYPTO)
        if self.get_position(coin) is not None:
            return  # already holding BTC
        price = self.get_last_price(coin, quote=self.quote_asset)
        if price:
            quantity = round(7500 / price, 6)  # about 7500 JPY worth
            order = self.create_order(coin, quantity, "buy", quote=self.quote_asset)
            self.submit_order(order)


if __name__ == "__main__":
    # LumiBot reads TRADING_BROKER and the keys from your .env file.
    strategy = BittradeBuyOnce(quote_asset=Asset("JPY", asset_type=Asset.AssetType.CRYPTO))
    strategy.run_live()

Agentic trading example: an AI agent that trades on BitTrade

Agentic trading means an AI agent reads the market and decides what to do. In this example one LumiBot agent looks at prices and your BitTrade account, then places the orders itself. There is no Python logic in between: you set the rules in plain English in the prompt, such as what it may trade and how big each order can be. This follows the same pattern as LumiBot’s AI trading team examples.

from lumibot.entities import Asset
from lumibot.strategies import Strategy


class BittradeAITrader(Strategy):
    """One AI agent researches the market and places the trades itself."""

    def initialize(self):
        self.sleeptime = "4H"
        self.set_market("24/7")
        self.agents.create(
            name="trader",
            model="openai/gpt-6-luna",
            reasoning_effort="high",
            allow_trading=True,
            system_prompt=(
                "You manage a small crypto account on BitTrade. "
                "You may trade BTC and ETH against JPY (asset_type 'crypto', quote_symbol 'JPY'), or hold cash. "
                "Before every order, call account_portfolio, account_positions and "
                "market_last_price for that exact symbol in the same run. "
                "Keep each order under 10% of the account value. "
                "Explain each decision in one short paragraph."
            ),
        )

    def on_trading_iteration(self):
        self.agents["trader"].run(
            task_prompt="Review recent BTC/JPY and ETH/JPY prices and your current holdings, then decide whether to buy, sell or hold.",
            context={"exchange": "BitTrade", "quote": "JPY", "date": self.get_datetime().isoformat()},
        )


if __name__ == "__main__":
    # LumiBot reads TRADING_BROKER and the keys from your .env file.
    strategy = BittradeAITrader(quote_asset=Asset("JPY", asset_type=Asset.AssetType.CRYPTO))
    strategy.run_live()

The agent needs a model key such as OPENAI_API_KEY in your environment. See the AI agents quickstart for models, tools and memory.

What you can trade on BitTrade through CCXT

Market

Listed by CCXT

Spot

Yes

Margin

Not listed by CCXT

Perpetual swaps

No

Dated futures

No

Options

No

CCXT lists these order features for BitTrade: market orders, limit orders, editing open orders, canceling orders.

BitTrade tips

  • BitTrade markets are priced in Japanese yen, so use JPY as your quote asset (for example BTC/JPY).

  • Set an IP address on every bot key. BitTrade keys without an IP restriction stop working after 90 days, which can quietly break a long-running bot.

  • You can create at most 5 API keys. BitTrade’s help pages and API docs are in Japanese.

  • BitTrade’s API host is api-cloud.bittrade.co.jp. CCXT uses it for you, so you do not need to set it.

Frequently asked questions

Can I build a BitTrade trading bot in Python?

Yes. Install LumiBot (pip install lumibot), set your BitTrade keys and use the bittrade CCXT exchange id as shown above.

Does BitTrade have a testnet?

No testnet is set up for BitTrade in LumiBot. Start with a small amount, and in a code config set "sandbox": False.

Which API permissions does a BitTrade bot need?

BitTrade has three permissions: 読取 (Read), 取引 (Trade) and 出金 (Withdraw). New keys start with Read only, so also tick Trade. Leave Withdraw off. A bot never needs to move money out of your account.

Can an AI agent trade on BitTrade by itself?

Yes. The agentic example above gives one agent permission to trade. You control what it may trade and how much through its prompt.

Can I trade BitTrade perpetual futures with LumiBot?

CCXT does not list perpetual swaps for BitTrade, so use spot markets.

Is LumiBot free?

Yes. LumiBot is open source on GitHub at https://github.com/Lumiwealth/lumibot. You pay only your exchange’s trading fees and, for AI agents, your model provider.

Run it in the cloud with BotSpot

Do not want to keep a computer running for your BitTrade bot? BotSpot is the hosted home for LumiBot strategies and AI trading agents: build with AI, backtest, connect a broker, and watch every trade with logs and alerts.

Try BotSpot

Sources