Kraken API usage guide: how to connect to the API for automated trading

Kraken API enables automated trading on Kraken; set up your account, use krakenex library in Python to interact, and implement strategies like moving average crossovers.

May 31, 2025 at 03:21 pm

Kraken is one of the most popular cryptocurrency exchanges, known for its robust security measures and wide range of trading options. For traders looking to automate their strategies, the Kraken API provides a powerful tool to interact with the exchange programmatically. This guide will walk you through the process of connecting to the Kraken API for automated trading, covering everything from setting up your account to executing trades.

Setting Up Your Kraken Account for API Access

Before you can start using the Kraken API, you need to ensure your account is set up correctly. Navigate to the Kraken website and log in to your account. Once logged in, follow these steps:

• Go to the "Settings" menu located at the top right corner of the page.
• Select "API" from the dropdown menu. This will take you to the API management page.
• Create a new API key by clicking on the "Generate New Key" button. You will be prompted to name your key and select the permissions you want to grant it. For automated trading, you will need to enable "Query Funds," "Create and Modify Orders," and "Cancel Orders."
• Enter your two-factor authentication (2FA) code to confirm the creation of the API key. Once generated, you will see your API Key and Private Key. It's crucial to keep these keys secure and never share them with anyone.

Installing and Configuring the Kraken API Client

To interact with the Kraken API, you will need to use a client library. Python is a popular choice for this purpose, and the krakenex library provides a convenient interface to the Kraken API. Here's how to set it up:

• Install Python if you haven't already. You can download it from the official Python website.
• Open a terminal or command prompt and run the following command to install the krakenex library:

  pip install krakenex

• Create a new Python script and import the krakenex library:

  from krakenex import API

• Initialize the API client with your API key and private key:

  kraken = API()
  kraken.load_key('path/to/your/kraken.key')

  You can store your API key and private key in a file named kraken.key in the format:

  key = your_api_key
  secret = your_private_key

Authenticating and Fetching Account Information

Once your client is set up, you can authenticate and fetch account information. Here’s how to do it:

• Authenticate your API client:

  kraken.load_key('path/to/your/kraken.key')

• Fetch your account balance:

  balance = kraken.query_private('Balance')
  print(balance)

  This will return a dictionary containing your current balance for each asset on Kraken.

• Fetch your open orders:

  open_orders = kraken.query_private('OpenOrders')
  print(open_orders)

  This will return a dictionary containing details of your currently open orders.

Placing and Managing Orders

Automated trading involves placing and managing orders programmatically. Here’s how to do it with the Kraken API:

• Place a market order:

  order_data = {
  'pair': 'XBTUSD',
  'type': 'buy',
  'ordertype': 'market',
  'volume': '0.01'
  }
  response = kraken.query_private('AddOrder', order_data)
  print(response)

  This will place a market buy order for 0.01 BTC in the XBTUSD trading pair.

• Place a limit order:

  order_data = {
  'pair': 'XBTUSD',
  'type': 'sell',
  'ordertype': 'limit',
  'volume': '0.01',
  'price': '30000'
  }
  response = kraken.query_private('AddOrder', order_data)
  print(response)

  This will place a limit sell order for 0.01 BTC at a price of 30,000 USD in the XBTUSD trading pair.

• Cancel an order:

  order_id = 'O123456789'  # Replace with actual order ID
  response = kraken.query_private('CancelOrder', {'txid': order_id})
  print(response)

  This will cancel the order with the specified ID.

Fetching Market Data

To make informed trading decisions, you need to fetch market data. The Kraken API provides various endpoints for this purpose:

• Fetch ticker data:

  ticker_data = kraken.query_public('Ticker', {'pair': 'XBTUSD'})
  print(ticker_data)

  This will return the current ticker data for the XBTUSD trading pair.

• Fetch OHLC (Open, High, Low, Close) data:

  ohlc_data = kraken.query_public('OHLC', {'pair': 'XBTUSD', 'interval': 1})
  print(ohlc_data)

  This will return the OHLC data for the XBTUSD trading pair with a 1-minute interval.

• Fetch order book data:

  order_book = kraken.query_public('Depth', {'pair': 'XBTUSD'})
  print(order_book)

  This will return the current order book for the XBTUSD trading pair.

Implementing a Simple Trading Strategy

Now that you have the basics down, let's implement a simple trading strategy using the Kraken API. This example will use a moving average crossover strategy to buy and sell Bitcoin:

• Fetch historical OHLC data:

  ohlc_data = kraken.query_public('OHLC', {'pair': 'XBTUSD', 'interval': 1440})  # Daily data

• Calculate moving averages:

  import numpy as np
  closes = [float(candle[4]) for candle in ohlc_data'result']
  short_ma = np.mean(closes[-20:])
  long_ma = np.mean(closes[-50:])

• Check for crossover and place order:

  if short_ma > long_ma:
  order_data = {
      'pair': 'XBTUSD',
      'type': 'buy',
      'ordertype': 'market',
      'volume': '0.01'
  }
  response = kraken.query_private('AddOrder', order_data)
  print('Buy order placed:', response)
  elif short_ma < long_ma:
  order_data = {
      'pair': 'XBTUSD',
      'type': 'sell',
      'ordertype': 'market',
      'volume': '0.01'
  }
  response = kraken.query_private('AddOrder', order_data)
  print('Sell order placed:', response)

This simple strategy checks for a crossover between the 20-day and 50-day moving averages and places a market order accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use the Kraken API for high-frequency trading?

A: Yes, the Kraken API supports high-frequency trading, but you need to ensure your API key has the necessary permissions and that your internet connection is stable to handle the rapid requests.

Q: What are the rate limits for the Kraken API?

A: Kraken has different rate limits depending on the type of request. Public endpoints have a limit of 1 request per second, while private endpoints are limited to 15 requests per minute. Exceeding these limits may result in your IP being temporarily banned.

Q: How secure is the Kraken API?

A: The Kraken API uses SSL encryption and requires API keys for authentication, making it secure for most trading purposes. However, it's crucial to keep your API keys confidential and use them only on trusted devices.

Q: Can I use the Kraken API with other programming languages besides Python?

A: Yes, the Kraken API can be used with various programming languages such as JavaScript, Java, and C#. You will need to use the appropriate client library or make HTTP requests directly to the API endpoints.