Introduction to 3Commas Trading Bots
3Commas is a popular crypto trading platform that offers automated trading solutions through various bot types. These bots execute trades based on predefined strategies and market conditions, allowing traders to implement sophisticated trading approaches without constant monitoring. The platform bridges multiple exchanges through API connections, providing a unified interface for managing automated trading across your entire crypto portfolio.
Bot Types & Their Functions
DCA Bots (Dollar-Cost Averaging)
The most popular bot type on 3Commas that implements a dollar-cost averaging strategy.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Basic Function | Automatically buys at set intervals or on dips and sells at profit targets |
| Strategy Type | Long-term accumulation and profit-taking |
| Risk Level | Low to medium (depends on configuration) |
| Best Market | Sideways, bullish, or mildly bearish markets |
| Key Settings | Base trade size, safety orders, take profit %, maximum active deals |
Grid Bots
Creates a grid of buy and sell orders across a price range to capitalize on market volatility.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Basic Function | Places multiple buy/sell orders at regular intervals |
| Strategy Type | Range trading, volatility capture |
| Risk Level | Medium |
| Best Market | Sideways, range-bound markets |
| Key Settings | Upper limit, lower limit, number of grids, investment amount |
SMART Trade
Manual trade entry with automated exit strategies and position management.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Basic Function | Executes a trade with pre-set exit conditions (take profit/stop loss) |
| Strategy Type | Single-entry, multiple-exit strategy |
| Risk Level | Customizable |
| Best Market | All market types |
| Key Settings | Entry price, take profit targets, stop loss, trailing settings |
Options Bots
Automates options trading strategies (available on select exchanges).
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Basic Function | Executes options contracts based on market conditions |
| Strategy Type | Options strategies (covered calls, cash-secured puts, etc.) |
| Risk Level | High |
| Best Market | Various, depending on strategy |
| Key Settings | Strike price, expiration date, premium target, strategy type |
Signal Bots
Execute trades based on external trading signals.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Basic Function | Follows signals from provided channels or custom sources |
| Strategy Type | Copy trading |
| Risk Level | Depends on signal provider |
| Best Market | Depends on signal strategy |
| Key Settings | Signal source, risk per trade, maximum open positions |
Setting Up Your First 3Commas Bot
API Connection Setup
Generate Exchange API Keys
- Login to your exchange (Binance, Coinbase Pro, etc.)
- Navigate to API management section
- Create new API key with trading permissions (read/write)
- Set IP restrictions if available (enhanced security)
- Copy API Key and Secret Key
Connect API to 3Commas
- Login to 3Commas dashboard
- Navigate to “My Exchanges” section
- Select your exchange
- Paste API Key and Secret
- Enable desired permissions (trading, balance info)
- Complete 2FA verification if prompted
- Test connection
DCA Bot Initial Configuration
Basic Settings
- Choose exchange and account
- Select bot name and pairs to trade
- Set base trade size (recommended: 1-3% of portfolio per pair)
- Configure quote currency (USDT, BTC, etc.)
Strategy Settings
- Take profit percentage (recommended starting point: 1-3%)
- Bot start condition (manually or by signals)
- Max active deals (start with 1-3 until comfortable)
- Stop loss settings (optional but recommended)
Safety Orders Configuration
- Number of safety orders (start with 3-5)
- Safety order volume (typically 1-2x base order)
- Price deviation for first safety order (2-5%)
- Scale safety order volume (optional, 1-1.5)
- Safety order step scale (1.5-3 recommended)
Advanced Settings
- Cooldown between deals (prevents overtrading)
- Minimum volume filter (avoids illiquid pairs)
- Close deals by bot (recommended: enabled)
- Use conditional close (TP based on different indicators)
Grid Bot Initial Configuration
Market Selection
- Choose exchange and pair
- Select grid type (AI, manual, auto)
- Set upper and lower price limits
Grid Parameters
- Number of grid lines (10-20 for beginners)
- Total investment amount
- Grid profit percentage (calculated automatically)
- Set trailing up/down (for dynamic grids)
Risk Management
- Emergency stop loss (lower than lowest grid)
- Profit currency preference (quote or base)
- Stop bot on signal (for trend-sensitive strategies)
Bot Strategy Templates
Conservative DCA Bot
Designed for lower risk and steady returns in varied market conditions.
Bot Type: DCA Bot
Base Order: 1% of portfolio
Take Profit: 1.5-2%
Max Active Deals: 5
Safety Orders: 7
Safety Order Volume: 1.5x base
Safety Order Step: 2.5%
Safety Order Volume Scale: 1.25
Safety Order Step Scale: 1.1
Strategy: Active 24/7 on major pairs (BTC, ETH, BNB)
Aggressive DCA Bot
Higher risk profile for potentially larger returns, best in bull markets.
Bot Type: DCA Bot
Base Order: 2-3% of portfolio
Take Profit: 3-5%
Max Active Deals: 10
Safety Orders: 12
Safety Order Volume: 2x base
Safety Order Step: 2%
Safety Order Volume Scale: 1.4
Safety Order Step Scale: 1.05
Strategy: Use with momentum indicators on mid-cap alts
Volatile Market Grid Bot
Capitalizes on high volatility by setting wider grids.
Bot Type: Grid Bot
Grid Type: Manual
Upper Limit: 15-20% above current price
Lower Limit: 15-20% below current price
Number of Grids: 15-20
Strategy: Apply to high-volatility assets during uncertain markets
Optional: Set trailing up/down for dynamic range adjustment
Range-Bound Grid Bot
Perfect for sideways markets with established support/resistance.
Bot Type: Grid Bot
Grid Type: Manual
Upper Limit: Recent resistance level
Lower Limit: Recent support level
Number of Grids: 10-15
Strategy: Apply to pairs trading in clear channels
Optional: Set up multiple bots for different trading pairs
Trend-Following SMART Trade
Captures trending moves with strategic entry and exit.
Bot Type: SMART Trade
Entry: Market order or limit at support
Take Profit: Multiple levels (33% at 2%, 33% at 4%, 34% at 6%)
Stop Loss: 5-8% below entry
Trailing Take Profit: 1% deviation after 2% profit
Strategy: Use with trend indicators (MACD, MA crossovers)
Advanced Bot Settings & Optimizations
DCA Bot Optimization
| Setting | Standard | Advanced Optimization |
|---|---|---|
| Base Order Size | Fixed percentage | Scale based on RSI (smaller orders at high RSI, larger at low) |
| Take Profit | Fixed percentage | Dynamic based on ATR (higher in volatile markets) |
| Safety Orders | Equal intervals | Fibonacci sequence scaling (1.618 multiplier) |
| Deal Start Condition | Manual or simple TrendLine | Multi-indicator confirmation (RSI + MACD + MA) |
| Deal Filters | Basic volume filters | Add time-based filters (avoid trading during low-volume periods) |
| Trailing Take Profit | Simple deviation | Combined with volume spike detection |
Grid Bot Optimization
| Setting | Standard | Advanced Optimization |
|---|---|---|
| Grid Boundaries | Manual setting | Based on Bollinger Bands (2-3 standard deviations) |
| Grid Density | Equal spacing | Higher density near support/resistance levels |
| Investment Distribution | Equal per grid | Higher allocation to high-probability zones |
| Rebalancing Frequency | None/Manual | Automated weekly based on volatility changes |
| Pair Selection | Manual | Correlation-based portfolio (negatively correlated pairs) |
Strategy-Specific Optimization
Bull Market Optimization
- Increase base order size
- Reduce number of safety orders
- Set higher take profit targets
- Focus on momentum indicators for entry
Bear Market Optimization
- Reduce overall position size
- Increase safety order count and scale
- Lower take profit targets
- Add strong stop loss conditions
- Consider short-selling bots if available
Sideways Market Optimization
- Use narrower grid ranges
- Increase grid density
- Lower take profit expectations
- Focus on oscillator indicators (RSI, Stochastic)
Bot Performance Monitoring & Analytics
Key Performance Metrics
| Metric | Description | Target Range |
|---|---|---|
| Total Profit | Absolute profit in base currency | Positive (compare to HODL) |
| Success Rate | Percentage of profitable deals | >85% for DCA, >60% for other strategies |
| Average Profit per Deal | Mean profit of closed deals | Consistent with strategy expectation |
| Maximum Drawdown | Largest portfolio decline | <25% of allocated capital |
| Profit Factor | Gross profit divided by gross loss | >1.5 considered good |
| Recovery Factor | Net profit divided by max drawdown | >2 considered good |
| Average Deal Duration | Time to complete average trade | Strategy dependent |
Analytics Dashboard Navigation
Portfolio Overview
- Total account value
- Distribution across exchanges and currencies
- Open positions with unrealized PnL
Bot Performance Section
- Individual bot metrics
- Historical performance graphs
- Comparison between bots
Deal Analysis Tools
- Filter deals by pair, bot, date range
- Export data for external analysis
- Visual representation of deal outcomes
Optimization Tools
- Backtesting features (on supported strategies)
- Parameter optimization suggestions
- Market condition correlation analysis
Risk Management Best Practices
Portfolio Allocation Guidelines
- Maximum Per Strategy: Limit 20-30% of portfolio to any single strategy
- Maximum Per Bot: 5-10% of portfolio to any individual bot
- Trading Pairs Diversification: Include large, mid, and small caps
- Exchange Diversification: Spread risk across 2-3 exchanges
- Reserve Funds: Keep 20-30% in stablecoins for opportunities
Stop Loss Implementation
Account-Level Protection
- Set maximum drawdown limit (15-25% recommended)
- Implement automatic trading pause triggers
- Use 3Commas Portfolio Stop Loss feature
Bot-Level Protection
- Configure conditional bot stops based on market indicators
- Set maximum active capital limits
- Implement automatic deactivation triggers
Deal-Level Protection
- Always set maximum safety orders limit
- Configure stop loss for DCA bots in bearish conditions
- Use trailing stop loss for volatile assets
Common Risk Mistakes to Avoid
- Overallocation to safety orders
- Ignoring correlation between pairs
- Setting take profit too high (greed)
- Insufficient capital for selected strategy
- Overriding bot decisions with emotions
- Using excessive leverage
- Insufficient backtesting before deployment
- Frequent strategy changing
Advanced Strategies & Techniques
Composite Bot Strategies
DCA + Grid Hybrid
- Use DCA bots for accumulation
- Deploy Grid bots in accumulated positions
- Take profits from Grid into stablecoins for DCA
Market Condition Rotation
- Bull market: Aggressive DCA settings
- Sideways market: Grid bot focus
- Bear market: Conservative DCA or pause
Time-Based Strategies
- Day/night rotation based on market hours
- Weekend vs. weekday setting adjustments
- Monthly cycle optimization (first week vs. last week)
Signal Integration
External Signal Sources
- TradingView Alerts
- Telegram signal channels
- Proprietary indicators
Custom Signal Creation
- 3Commas proprietary signal format
- Multi-condition signal development
- Custom webhook implementation
Signal Filtering
- Confirmation requirements
- Time-based restrictions
- Volume confirmation
Multi-Exchange Arbitrage
Setup Requirements
- API connections to multiple exchanges
- Fast execution settings
- Price deviation alerts
Implementation Methods
- SMART trades with multi-exchange monitoring
- Custom bots with arbitrage logic
- Quick transfer capabilities between exchanges
Troubleshooting Common Issues
API Connection Problems
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Authentication Failed | Regenerate API keys with correct permissions |
| Connection Timeout | Check exchange status, network connection |
| Insufficient Permissions | Update API key permissions on exchange |
| Trade Execution Failed | Verify trading pair restrictions, minimum orders |
| 2FA Required | Complete required verification or IP whitelisting |
Bot Performance Issues
| Issue | Troubleshooting Steps |
|---|---|
| Bot Not Starting Deals | Check start conditions, funds availability, pair restrictions |
| Stuck Deals | Verify take profit settings, liquidity of trading pair |
| Unexpected Stop Loss | Check for incorrect stop loss configuration or market volatility |
| Excessive Safety Orders | Review safety order settings and step scaling |
| Low Profit Performance | Analyze take profit settings, market conditions |
Account Management Problems
| Problem | Resolution |
|---|---|
| Missing Funds | Check for open orders, failed settlements |
| Incorrect Balance Display | Refresh API connection, verify exchange syncing |
| Unauthorized Trades | Check API key security, enable notifications |
| Failed Withdrawals | Verify withdrawal permissions, address whitelist |
| Exchange Restrictions | Review exchange policy changes, regional restrictions |
Resources & Further Learning
3Commas Documentation
Community & Support
Advanced Learning
Getting Started Checklist
Day 1: Setup & Education
- [ ] Create 3Commas account
- [ ] Connect exchange API(s)
- [ ] Complete basic platform tutorial
- [ ] Research bot types and strategies
Week 1: Paper Trading
- [ ] Create DCA bot with paper trading
- [ ] Set conservative parameters
- [ ] Monitor daily performance
- [ ] Adjust settings based on results
Week 2: Real Trading Initiation
- [ ] Allocate small capital (1-5% of portfolio)
- [ ] Create first real DCA bot with conservative settings
- [ ] Set up detailed monitoring schedule
- [ ] Document all settings and performance
Month 1: Strategy Development
- [ ] Expand to 2-3 different bot strategies
- [ ] Begin testing different pairs and settings
- [ ] Implement proper risk management rules
- [ ] Join community for feedback and insights
Remember that successful bot trading requires continuous learning, adaptation, and patience. Start small, focus on risk management, and gradually expand your strategies as you gain experience with the platform.