Kraken API Dollar cost averaging script

Hi! If you're looking for a way to automate your regular crypto purchases via Kraken, you have come to the right place. The kraken_api_dca.py script allows you to specify orders in all trading pairs on Kraken. Just let your computer run the script at regular intervals and you have your automated Dollar cost averaging bot.

Support

If this code is useful to you, consider supporting me! This way I can continue maintaining and improving your DCA script.

Dependencies

This script needs the krakenex pip package. To install it run

pip install -r requirements.txt

Usage

To use the script, you need to:

Create a Kraken API key and save it to the file kraken.key. See here for an explanation.
Create a file orders.json and specify your orders. . See this description of how to place your orders.
Run the script via python3 kraken_api_dca.py

Kraken API key

To use this script, you need a Kraken API key that allows creating orders.

Below we explain how to create an API key if you don't have one already.

How to create an API key

To create your API key, click on your profile icon. Then go to Security->API. You will see the following screen.

Click on 'Add key' to add a new API key.

This will take you to the next screen.

Make sure you check Create & Modify Orders.

You should not check any other fields. Especially not 'Withdraw Funds', as this would allow people with access to your API key to withdraw your funds.

Then click on 'Generate key'.

This creates your key and takes you to the next screen. Here you see your public and private key. This is the information you have to store in the kraken.key file.

Copy the information from the 'API key' line and write it into the first line in kraken.key.

Then copy the private key and save it in the second line of kraken.key.

Finally, click 'Save.'

Your kraken.key file should look like this.

<API key>
<Private key>

Specifying your orders

To specify your orders, create a file called orders.json. The file should contain a list of orders in JSON format. Each order object can contain the following fields:

pair (string): The trading pair you want to buy (for example ALGOUSD for trading Algorand for US$). Have a look at trading_pairs.txt for an overview of all trading pairs. Note that Bitcoin is called XBT.
amount_in_fiat (number): The amount you want to buy (in fiat currency). E.g. if you want to buy 400$ of Bitcoin, enter 400 and choose the XXBTZUSD trading pair.
debug (boolean): This gives you the possibility to test the script before you let it place orders for you. If you set debug:true the order will be placed as a limit order for 1% of the current price. This is, so you can verify that the order is created and delete the order before it is executed. After you checked that everything worked, set debug:false for all your orders.

An example orders.json could look like this:

[
  {
    "pair": "XETHZUSD",
    "amount_in_fiat": 100,
    "debug": true
  },
  {
    "pair": "XXBTZUSD",
    "amount_in_fiat": 200,
    "debug": true
  }
]

This would create two orders. The first order buys 100$ of Ether, the second order buys 200$ of Bitcoin. Both orders have debug mode activated, which means they will be placed as limit orders on 1% of the current price. This way you can check that everything works out, delete the created orders and set debug:false once you want to start using the script.

How can you automate calling the script

Linux

On Linux you can use anacron to schedule execution of the script. To run the script monthly, you can add the following line to /etc/anacrontab:

@monthly 7 kraken-api-dca-script cd ~/kraken_api_dca && python3 ~/kraken_api_dca/kraken_api_dca.py

anacron has the advantage over cron that if your computer is turned off, the script will be executed the next time the computer is turned on. See here for more information on anacron.

Windows

On Windows you could try the following library to schedule script execution: Advanced Python Scheduler (Note: I couldn't test this, since I don't have a Windows machine)

Logging

The script will write logs to a file called logs.txt. Check this file for the results of your API calls.

Use at your own risk

This code is correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. If you decide to use it, you do so at your own risk. I will not be liable for any losses or damages in connection with using my code.

bewagner/kraken_api_dca