WhiteBit Trading Bot in Python

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

WhiteBit at a glance

CCXT exchange id

whitebit

Markets

Spot, Margin, Perpetual swaps

Testnet (sandbox)

No

Credentials

API key, API secret

Live data streams

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

CCXT request spacing

about 20 ms between requests

Official site

https://www.whitebit.com

API docs

https://github.com/whitebit-exchange/api-docs

Fees

https://whitebit.com/fee-schedule

What is WhiteBit?

WhiteBIT is a centralized crypto exchange with 350+ trading pairs. It offers spot trading, margin trading and futures.

Sign up for WhiteBit

  1. Create a WhiteBIT account on https://whitebit.com.

  2. Pass identity verification (KYC). WhiteBIT needs it before you can make deposits or withdrawals.

  3. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA). WhiteBIT requires 2FA before you can create API keys.

Open a WhiteBit account

Create a WhiteBit API key

  1. Log in on the WhiteBIT website, open Settings and go to the API block, then API keys.

  2. Click Generate API key and enter your 2FA code.

  3. Name the key and, under endpoint access restrictions, turn on only the categories the bot needs (see below).

  4. Click Confirm and enter your 2FA code again.

  5. Save the Secret Key right away. WhiteBIT cannot show it again after you close the page. You can then add your bot’s IP addresses to the trusted list.

Which permissions to turn on: Turn on Trading Balance and History and Order Management. Leave Withdrawal, Deposit and Transfer between balances off. A bot never needs to move money out of your account.

Warning

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

Connect WhiteBit to LumiBot

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

TRADING_BROKER=whitebit
WHITEBIT_API_KEY=your_apiKey
WHITEBIT_API_SECRET=your_secret

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

import os

WHITEBIT_CONFIG = {
    "exchange_id": "whitebit",
    "apiKey": os.environ.get("WHITEBIT_API_KEY"),
    "secret": os.environ.get("WHITEBIT_API_SECRET"),
    "sandbox": False,  # no sandbox for this exchange
}

from lumibot.brokers import Ccxt

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

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

Testing on WhiteBit

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

Algorithmic trading example: a simple WhiteBit bot

This bot buys about 50 USDT of BTC on WhiteBit 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 WhitebitBuyOnce(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 = WhitebitBuyOnce(quote_asset=Asset("USDT", asset_type=Asset.AssetType.CRYPTO))
    strategy.run_live()

Agentic trading example: an AI agent that trades on WhiteBit

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 WhiteBit 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 WhitebitAITrader(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 WhiteBit. "
                "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": "WhiteBit", "quote": "USDT", "date": self.get_datetime().isoformat()},
        )


if __name__ == "__main__":
    # LumiBot reads TRADING_BROKER and the keys from your .env file.
    strategy = WhitebitAITrader(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 WhiteBit through CCXT

Market

Listed by CCXT

Spot

Yes

Margin

Yes

Perpetual swaps

Yes

Dated futures

No

Options

No

CCXT lists these order features for WhiteBit: market orders, limit orders, stop 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.

WhiteBit tips

  • Deposits land in your Main balance, but spot trades use your Trade balance (margin and futures use the Collateral balance). Move funds to the Trade balance on the website before you start the bot.

  • If you turn on the trusted IP list and a request comes from any other IP, WhiteBIT turns the key off and emails you. You can add up to 20 trusted IPs per key.

  • WhiteBIT turns off an API key after 14 days without use. You can see each key’s expiry date under API keys, and reactivate it on the API settings page.

  • WhiteBIT offers free Demo Tokens, a practice asset on the live exchange, to try spot trading and test your API keys. They are not a separate test site, so LumiBot’s sandbox setting does not apply.

Frequently asked questions

Can I build a WhiteBit trading bot in Python?

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

Does WhiteBit have a testnet?

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

Which API permissions does a WhiteBit bot need?

Turn on Trading Balance and History and Order Management. Leave Withdrawal, Deposit and Transfer between balances off. A bot never needs to move money out of your account.

Can an AI agent trade on WhiteBit 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 WhiteBit 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 WhiteBit 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