Cryptocurrency trading bots explained

Crypto trading bots are continuing to evolve in sophistication and functionality — with new players entering the market routinely. Updated regularly, this article profiles a range of the today's most popular crypto trading bots

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Trading bots are computer programs that use various indicators to recognize trends and automatically execute trades. While algorithmic trading software has been used by hedge funds in the equity, commodity and currency markets, trading bots for private investors first appeared in the foreign exchange trading space. They have quickly made their way into the crypto asset market.

Cryptocurrency trading bots

There are currently dozens of cryptocurrency trading bots on offer. They range from free software that anyone can use to expensive subscription-based bots for professional crypto day traders. However, even the most popular cryptocurrency trading bots vary in quality, usability, and profitability.

3Commas

3Commas is a popular cryptocurrency trading bot that enables traders to execute automated trades on Bittrex, BitFinex, Binance, Bitstamp, KuCoin, Poloniex, GDAX, Cryptopia, Huobi, and YoBiT.

3Commas provides an easy-to-navigate web-based SmartTrade dashboard that allows traders to view all their trades on the supported exchanges and includes features such as trailing stop losses, automated mean-reversion trades, and copy trading. 3Commas also enables traders to set up, analyze and back-test model portfolios to aid with portfolio composition.

The price for the trading bot ranges from $30 to $100 depending on the number of features a user requires. A custom enterprise solution is also on offer as well as a free trial for new users.

Autonio

Auton.io is a relatively new cryptocurrency trading bot that describes itself as "the first decentralized AI trading application for cryptocurrencies."

Autonio provides an easy-to-use trading software for both amateur and professional traders that combines a set of technical indicators to create trade signals that traders can use to automatically execute trades.

Autonio users pay a $50 monthly subscription fee using the platform's native NIO token to run the trading system. Additionally, well-performing trading algorithms can be bought and sold on the Autonio marketplace.

Cryptohopper

Cryptohopper is a cloud-based (24/7) cryptocurrency bot - which means the bot can continue trading even if the user's computer is turned off. Experienced traders can take a manual approach and configuring trading based on multiple technical indicators. Cryptohopper also features embedded external signalers, which permit inexperienced traders to let their bot trade on autopilot, executing trades as recommended by trusted and performance ranked 3rd parties.

The bot also offers backtesting, trailing stop loss, and the ability to trade using multiple exchanges. The first month's trading is free, with tiered subscription packages from $19 to $99 per month after that.

CryptoTrader

CryptoTrader is a cloud-based platform that allows users to develop their own cryptocurrency trading bots which are hosted on the platform. The software supports multiple currencies and exchanges, and allows for thorough backtesting of trading strategies. Additionally, CryptoTrader provides a marketplace where users can sell trading strategies they have developed as well as buy other user's strategies.

The prices for subscriptions to CryptoTrader ranges from 0.0026 BTC to 0.0316 BTC per month and can be paid for in both bitcoin and litecoin.

Gekko

Gekko is a free open-source bitcoin trading bot that can be found on Github. It allows users to execute basic cryptocurrency trading strategies. The bot aggregates live price data, calculates indicators, executes live orders, and can simulate live markets using historical price data for the backtesting of trading strategies.

While its functionality is somewhat limited compared to some of its peers, Gekko is a good trading bot for those new to the cryptocurrency markets who want to test out different automated trading strategies.

Haasbot

Haasbot is probably the most popular crypto trading bot available today. The bot provides candlestick chart pattern recognition and allows users to combine that with several other trading signals to develop more advanced crypto trading strategies.

Furthermore, Haasbot is supported by a long list of major bitcoin exchanges and is fully customizable in terms of when it should execute trades.

It also allows users to engage in arbitrage across exchanges as well as protect their investments using stop-loss limits, among other value-adding functionality. Pricing ranges from 0.073 BTC to 0.127 BTC for a 12-month license — depending on the feature set. This bot is at the higher price end and recommended for more advanced traders.

Gunbot

The Gunbot trading bot features a wide range of settings and specifications designed for both beginner and advanced traders. It can be used across a range of major exchanges ( Bittrex, Binance, Cryptopia, CEX.io, Cryptopia, Bitfinex, Kraken, Poloniex and Gdax) and is supported by a large user community. Pricing for a lifetime license range between 0.035 to 0.16 5 BTC depending on desired feature sets.

ZenBot

ZenBot is another open-source cryptocurrency trading bot that can be found on GitHub. It can be downloaded for free and its code can be modified by anyone who feels it could use an upgrade. Zenbot supports multiple digital assets and uses a technical analysis-focused approach to execute trading strategies.

It also offers high-frequency trade execution, extensive backtesting, and a paper trading function to test strategies in real-time. Having said that, on Zenbot's GitHub page its developer warns from using it with large amounts of trading capital as some users have reported losses in live trading even when paper trades showed gains.

Risks of trading using crypto trading bots

Whenever you give your money to a third party — be it a fund manager or a trading software — you are taking a risk. In the case of trading bots that are only a few years old and are being used in an immature illiquid market, the risks are even higher. Additionally, there are the added risks of potentially faulty software, heavy losses due to flash crashes and falling victim to a scam.

Faulty Software: Not all trading bots are created equal. If you are choosing a poorly coded trading bot that has a subpar or even faulty software, you will likely end up losing money using the bot. Hence, you should only choose bitcoin trading bots with the best reputations that offer the type of trading tools that you require.

Flash Crashes: In the case of a flash crash, as we have witnessed in ether (ETH) on GDAX back in June 2017, trading bots can lead to heavy losses in seconds if users have not set stop-loss limits on their trades. Flash crashes occur more often than one may think in the relatively illiquid and still largely unregulated world of cryptocurrencies and this poses a risk to those who let trading bots automatically execute trades for them.

Scams: It also needs to be noted that trading bots can easily turn out to be scams. This has been a particularly common problem with trading bots in the forex space but has also affected the cryptocurrency space.

For example, late in 2017 community members warned about a bitcoin trading bot called Hexabot.

According to user reports on Reddit, Hexabot first halted withdrawals from its platform and then shut down its website in what appears to be an exit scam by the platform's owners.

Trading bots are tools, not passive income generators

The most important thing to highlight when it comes to cryptocurrency trading bots is that they are not a one-stop passive income solution that will make you money in your sleep. The bots that promise you that will most likely turn out to be scams and will end up losing you money.

The more sophisticated crypto trading bots allow you to set specific parameters at which the bots execute trades on your behalf. These parameters need to be backtested as well as adjusted as you go.

The cryptocurrency market is growing and evolving on a daily basis. Hence, trading strategies need to be updated and adjusted to function in new market conditions as well.

It is possible to generate a trading income using bitcoin trading bots. If you deploy the right strategy and regularly adjust your bot's settings, it can be a great tool to help you with cryptocurrency trading decisions.

However, crypto trading bots are by no means a set it and forget it solution and should only be used with small amounts of capital as the risks can be higher than if you simply trade yourself.