HitBTC Trading Bot in Python

This guide shows how to build a HitBTC trading bot in Python with LumiBot, for both AI agent trading and algorithmic trading. LumiBot connects to HitBTC through CCXT, the open source library that talks to more than 100 crypto exchanges. You will create a HitBTC 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.

HitBTC at a glance

CCXT exchange id

hitbtc

Markets

Spot, Margin, Perpetual swaps

Testnet (sandbox)

Yes

Credentials

API key, API secret

Live data streams

prices, order book, trades, candles, your orders, your balance

CCXT request spacing

about 3.333 ms between requests

Official site

https://hitbtc.com

API docs

https://api.hitbtc.com

Fees

https://hitbtc.com/fees-and-limits

What is HitBTC?

HitBTC is a crypto exchange with spot trading, margin trading (isolated and cross) and futures, including perpetual contracts. It offers REST and WebSocket APIs for automated trading.

Sign up for HitBTC

  1. Create a HitBTC account and open the link in the confirmation email.

  2. Turn on two-factor authentication: in Settings, open the Security tab, click Add 2FA App, save the backup code and scan the QR code with an authenticator app.

  3. For practice, HitBTC’s API docs list a separate Demo Environment (Sandbox) at https://api.demo.hitbtc.com.

Open a HitBTC account

Create a HitBTC API key

  1. Log in and open the API settings page in your account.

  2. Click New API key. The new key starts with no access rights.

  3. Copy the secret key right away. HitBTC hides it once you leave or reload the page.

  4. Tick the access rights the bot needs (see below).

  5. Confirm the change by email and with your 2FA code. HitBTC asks for both when you grant order or withdrawal rights.

Which permissions to turn on: Turn on Orderbook, History, Trading balance (to read balances, orders and trades) and Place/cancel orders (to trade). Leave the withdrawal right off, and skip Allow all. HitBTC notes that API actions such as withdrawals need only the API and secret keys, with no extra 2FA check.

Warning

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

Connect HitBTC to LumiBot

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

TRADING_BROKER=hitbtc
HITBTC_API_KEY=your_apiKey
HITBTC_API_SECRET=your_secret
HITBTC_SANDBOX=true   # testnet; remove this line for your live account

LumiBot reads exactly the fields CCXT needs for HitBTC (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 HitBTC:

import os

HITBTC_CONFIG = {
    "exchange_id": "hitbtc",
    "apiKey": os.environ.get("HITBTC_API_KEY"),
    "secret": os.environ.get("HITBTC_API_SECRET"),
    "sandbox": True,  # testnet first; set False for your live account
}

from lumibot.brokers import Ccxt

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

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

Practice on the HitBTC testnet

HitBTC’s API docs list a Demo Environment (Sandbox) at https://api.demo.hitbtc.com. Set HITBTC_SANDBOX=true (or "sandbox": True in a code config) to use it.

CCXT sends sandbox requests to: https://api.demo.hitbtc.com/api/3. Testnet and live accounts use different keys.

Algorithmic trading example: a simple HitBTC bot

This bot buys about 50 USDT of BTC on HitBTC 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 HitbtcBuyOnce(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(50 / price, 6)  # about 50 USDT 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 = HitbtcBuyOnce(quote_asset=Asset("USDT", asset_type=Asset.AssetType.CRYPTO))
    strategy.run_live()

Agentic trading example: an AI agent that trades on HitBTC

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 HitBTC 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 HitbtcAITrader(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 HitBTC. "
                "You may trade BTC and ETH against USDT (asset_type 'crypto', quote_symbol 'USDT'), 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/USDT and ETH/USDT prices and your current holdings, then decide whether to buy, sell or hold.",
            context={"exchange": "HitBTC", "quote": "USDT", "date": self.get_datetime().isoformat()},
        )


if __name__ == "__main__":
    # LumiBot reads TRADING_BROKER and the keys from your .env file.
    strategy = HitbtcAITrader(quote_asset=Asset("USDT", 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 HitBTC through CCXT

Market

Listed by CCXT

Spot

Yes

Margin

Yes

Perpetual swaps

Yes

Dated futures

No

Options

No

CCXT lists these order features for HitBTC: market orders, limit orders, stop orders, reduce-only orders, editing open orders, canceling orders.

For perpetual contracts, use the full CCXT symbol so the settlement currency is clear, for example BTC/USDT:USDT. See the CCXT guide for contract quantities, position modes and leverage.

HitBTC tips

  • You can make several API keys with different access rights. A separate key per bot keeps them apart and makes it easy to remove one.

  • HitBTC’s own symbols look like BTCUSDT for spot and BTCUSDT_PERP for perpetuals. In LumiBot use the CCXT form: BTC/USDT for spot and BTC/USDT:USDT for the perpetual.

  • HitBTC supports sub-accounts with their own access settings, managed through the Subaccounts section of the API.

  • When you set up 2FA, HitBTC shows a backup code. Write it down and store it safely before you continue.

Frequently asked questions

Can I build a HitBTC trading bot in Python?

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

Does HitBTC have a testnet?

Yes. Set HITBTC_SANDBOX=true and use keys from the HitBTC testnet.

Which API permissions does a HitBTC bot need?

Turn on Orderbook, History, Trading balance (to read balances, orders and trades) and Place/cancel orders (to trade). Leave the withdrawal right off, and skip Allow all. HitBTC notes that API actions such as withdrawals need only the API and secret keys, with no extra 2FA check.

Can an AI agent trade on HitBTC 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 HitBTC perpetual futures with LumiBot?

CCXT lists perpetual swaps for this exchange. Use the full contract symbol, such as BTC/USDT:USDT.

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 HitBTC 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