Infinity Grid Trading Algorithm for the Kraken Exchange

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The kraken-infinity-grid is an advanced, open-source Python-based trading algorithm engineered to automate cryptocurrency trading on the Kraken Spot exchange using grid trading strategies. By placing systematic buy and sell orders across predefined price intervals, it enables traders to capitalize on market volatility—buying low and selling high in a structured, repeatable manner.

Built with flexibility in mind, this tool supports multiple trading strategies such as GridHODL, GridSell, SWING, and cDCA, making it suitable for various market conditions and investment goals. It leverages the python-kraken-sdk library to securely interact with the Kraken API and can be deployed locally or via Docker, with support for both SQLite and PostgreSQL databases.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This software was designed for personal use and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with Kraken or Payward Ltd. Use at your own risk. The authors assume no liability for financial losses, technical errors, or trading outcomes resulting from its use.

Core Concepts of Grid Trading

Grid trading is a proven strategy that thrives in volatile markets by exploiting price oscillations. Instead of predicting market direction, it profits from movement—regardless of whether prices rise or fall—by placing layered orders above and below the current market price.

How Grid Trading Works

At its core, the kraken-infinity-grid creates a series of buy and sell orders spaced at fixed percentage intervals (e.g., 4%). As the price fluctuates within this grid:

Each completed cycle—buy followed by sell—generates a small profit in the quote currency (e.g., USD), while potentially accumulating more of the base currency (e.g., BTC) depending on the strategy used.

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Key Advantages


Available Trading Strategies

The kraken-infinity-grid supports four distinct strategies tailored to different risk profiles and market outlooks.

GridHODL

This strategy combines grid trading with long-term accumulation. It places buy orders at set intervals below the current price and automatically sets corresponding sell orders 4% above each purchase point.

GridSell

A profit-first approach where every bought amount is fully sold off at a markup.

SWING

An evolution of GridHODL that activates aggressive selling when prices break out above historical buy levels.

⚠️ Note: This strategy may start selling existing holdings above current prices—plan accordingly.

cDCA (Custom Dollar-Cost Averaging)

Focuses purely on accumulation by placing buy orders at fixed price intervals rather than fixed time intervals.


Setup & Deployment

Before running the algorithm with real funds, ensure you fully understand its behavior. Consider testing in dry-run mode first.

Prerequisites

  1. Kraken API Keys

    • Generate API keys from your Kraken account.
    • Ensure permissions include:

      • Order placement
      • Order querying
      • Account information access
  2. Telegram Notifications (Optional)

    • Create two bots via @BotFather.
    • Send a message to each bot to activate the chat.
    • Retrieve bot tokens and chat IDs via https://api.telegram.org/bot<TOKEN>/getUpdates.
  3. Database

    • Choose between:

      • Local SQLite file (simple setup)
      • PostgreSQL (recommended for production)

Running the Algorithm

Option 1: Pure Python Environment

python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate
pip install kraken-infinity-grid

kraken-infinity-grid run \
  --api-key YOUR_API_KEY \
  --secret-key YOUR_SECRET_KEY \
  --strategy GridHODL \
  --base-currency BTC \
  --quote-currency USD \
  --amount-per-grid 100 \
  --interval 0.04 \
  --sqlite-file /path/to/grid.db

Option 2: Docker Compose (Recommended)

  1. Clone the repository:

    git clone https://github.com/btschwertfeger/kraken-infinity-grid.git
  2. Build and run:

    docker system prune -a
    docker compose build --no-cache
    docker compose up

Ensure environment variables are configured in docker-compose.yaml or .env file.


Configuration Parameters

Environment VariableDescription
KRAKEN_API_KEYYour Kraken API key
KRAKEN_SECRET_KEYYour Kraken secret key
KRAKEN_RUN_STRATEGYStrategy: GridHODL, GridSell, SWING, cDCA
KRAKEN_RUN_BASE_CURRENCYe.g., BTC
KRAKEN_RUN_QUOTE_CURRENCYe.g., USD
KRAKEN_RUN_AMOUNT_PER_GRIDAmount per trade (e.g., 100 USD)
KRAKEN_RUN_INTERVALPrice interval (e.g., 0.04 = 4%)
KRAKEN_DRY_RUNSet to true to simulate trades
KRAKEN_RUN_SQLITE_FILEPath to SQLite database

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Monitoring & Troubleshooting

Real-Time Monitoring

Common Issues & Fixes


Risk Management & Best Practices

While grid trading offers consistent micro-gains, it carries risks—especially during strong trending markets or black swan events.

Risk Mitigation Tips

Always remember: past performance does not guarantee future results. Automated trading involves substantial risk.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is kraken-infinity-grid safe to use with real funds?
A: While technically robust, it’s third-party software with no official Kraken support. Always test in dry-run mode first and never risk more than you can afford to lose.

Q: Can I run multiple strategies simultaneously?
A: Yes, but use separate API keys and unique userref values for each instance to prevent nonce conflicts.

Q: Does it work during market crashes or surges?
A: GridHODL and cDCA perform better in ranging markets. In strong trends, you may end up over-bought or miss upside—SWING helps mitigate this.

Q: How are profits calculated?
A: Each sell order above a buy generates a profit in quote currency minus fees. Use the配套 PnL calculator for tax reporting.

Q: Can I backtest the strategy?
A: Limited backtesting tools exist in the /tools directory, but full backtesting support is still under development.

Q: What happens if the bot goes offline?
A: Open orders remain on Kraken’s exchange. Upon restart, the bot syncs with existing orders and resumes operation.


Final Thoughts

The kraken-infinity-grid offers a powerful way to automate crypto trading on Kraken using intelligent grid-based logic. Whether you're looking to accumulate assets over time or capture frequent micro-profits, its flexible strategies adapt to your goals.

However, automation doesn’t eliminate risk—it shifts the responsibility to proper configuration, monitoring, and risk management.

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