Bybit API trading tutorial: Bybit programmatic trading entry guide

Bybit's API allows traders to automate strategies, fetch market data, and manage accounts programmatically using RESTful and WebSocket APIs.

Jun 01, 2025 at 09:28 pm

Bybit API Trading Tutorial: Bybit Programmatic Trading Entry Guide

Bybit, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, offers robust API functionality that allows traders to automate their trading strategies. Bybit's API enables users to interact with the platform programmatically, executing trades, fetching market data, and managing their accounts. This tutorial will guide you through the process of setting up and using Bybit's API for programmatic trading.

Understanding Bybit's API

Before diving into the setup and usage, it's crucial to understand what Bybit's API offers. The API provides access to various endpoints, including market data, account management, and order management. Bybit's API is divided into RESTful APIs and WebSocket APIs. RESTful APIs are used for making requests to the server to fetch data or execute actions, while WebSocket APIs allow for real-time data streaming.

Setting Up Bybit API Access

To begin using Bybit's API, you need to set up an API key. Here's how you can do it:

• Log in to your Bybit account. Navigate to the API Management section.
• Click on "Create New API Key". You will be prompted to enter a name for your key.
• Enable the necessary permissions for your API key. For trading, you will need to enable "Trade" and possibly "Withdraw" permissions.
• Confirm the creation of the API key by entering the 2FA code sent to your registered email or mobile device.
• Save the API Key and Secret. These are crucial for accessing the API and should be kept secure.

Installing and Configuring the Bybit API Library

Once you have your API key, you need to install the Bybit API library. Bybit offers official libraries for several programming languages, including Python, JavaScript, and C#.

For Python users, you can install the library using pip:

• Open a terminal or command prompt.
• Run the command: pip install pybit

After installation, you can start using the library in your Python scripts. Here's a basic example of how to initialize the Bybit client:

from pybit import usdt_perpetual
Initialize the client with your API key and secret
client = usdt_perpetual.HTTP(
endpoint="https://api.bybit.com",
api_key="YOUR_API_KEY",
api_secret="YOUR_API_SECRET"
)

Fetching Market Data

One of the primary uses of Bybit's API is to fetch market data. This data can be used to make informed trading decisions. Here's how you can fetch market data using the Bybit API:

• Fetch ticker data to get the current price and other market statistics:

  ticker = client.latest_information_for_symbol(
  symbol="BTCUSDT"
  )
  print(ticker)

• Fetch order book data to see the current buy and sell orders:

  order_book = client.orderbook(
  symbol="BTCUSDT"
  )
  print(order_book)

• Fetch historical data to analyze past price movements:

  historical_data = client.query_kline(
  symbol="BTCUSDT",
  interval="1",
  from_time=1609459200,
  limit=200
  )
  print(historical_data)

Placing and Managing Orders

With the Bybit API, you can automate the process of placing and managing orders. Here's how you can do it:

• Place a market order:

  order = client.place_active_order(
  symbol="BTCUSDT",
  side="Buy",
  order_type="Market",
  qty=0.001,
  time_in_force="GoodTillCancel"
  )
  print(order)

• Place a limit order:

  order = client.place_active_order(
  symbol="BTCUSDT",
  side="Buy",
  order_type="Limit",
  qty=0.001,
  price=30000,
  time_in_force="GoodTillCancel"
  )
  print(order)

• Cancel an order:

  cancel_order = client.cancel_active_order(
  symbol="BTCUSDT",
  order_id="YOUR_ORDER_ID"
  )
  print(cancel_order)

• Fetch order status:

  order_status = client.query_active_order(
  symbol="BTCUSDT",
  order_id="YOUR_ORDER_ID"
  )
  print(order_status)

Managing Your Account

In addition to trading, you can use the Bybit API to manage your account. This includes fetching your balance, managing your positions, and handling withdrawals.

• Fetch account balance:

  balance = client.get_wallet_balance(
  coin="USDT"
  )
  print(balance)

• Fetch open positions:

  positions = client.my_position(
  symbol="BTCUSDT"
  )
  print(positions)

• Withdraw funds:

  withdrawal = client.withdraw(
  coin="USDT",
  amount=10,
  address="YOUR_WALLET_ADDRESS"
  )
  print(withdrawal)

Using WebSocket for Real-Time Data

WebSocket APIs are essential for real-time trading, as they allow you to receive market updates instantly. Here's how you can use Bybit's WebSocket API:

• Connect to the WebSocket:

  from pybit import usdt_perpetual
  ws = usdt_perpetual.WebSocket(
  test=False,
  api_key="YOUR_API_KEY",
  api_secret="YOUR_API_SECRET"
  )
  def handle_message(msg):
  print(msg)
  ws.orderbook_stream(
  handle_message,
  "BTCUSDT"
  )
  ws.keep_running()

This script connects to Bybit's WebSocket, subscribes to the order book stream for BTCUSDT, and prints any received messages.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use Bybit's API for backtesting trading strategies?

A: Yes, you can use Bybit's API to fetch historical data, which can be used to backtest trading strategies. However, you would need to implement the backtesting logic yourself or use a third-party library designed for backtesting.

Q: Is there a limit to the number of API requests I can make?

A: Bybit imposes rate limits on API requests to prevent abuse. The exact limits depend on the type of request and your account type. You can find detailed information on rate limits in Bybit's API documentation.

Q: How secure is it to use Bybit's API for trading?

A: Bybit's API uses API keys and secrets for authentication, which adds a layer of security. However, it's crucial to keep your API keys secure and to use additional security measures like IP whitelisting and 2FA to protect your account.

Q: Can I use Bybit's API on different programming languages?

A: Yes, Bybit provides official libraries for several programming languages, including Python, JavaScript, and C#. Additionally, you can use the RESTful API directly with any programming language that supports HTTP requests.