Overview
About Deribit
Deribit is the dominant venue for crypto options, handling the large majority of global Bitcoin and Ether options volume. It also offers futures, perpetuals and spot trading, and is widely used by professional and institutional traders. Deribit is now part of Coinbase.
AutoTrader connects to Deribit with an API client ID and secret. Your strategies trade in your own Deribit account, and the Deribit testnet provides a full copy of the exchange with test funds for risk-free practice.
Supported markets
What you can trade on Deribit
The asset classes Deribit offers, and popular symbols you can automate with AutoTrader.
Asset classes offered
- Crypto options
- Crypto futures
- Perpetual futures
- Spot crypto
Popular crypto markets
- BTC-PERPETUAL
- ETH-PERPETUAL
- BTC options
- ETH options
- BTC/USDC
- ETH/USDC
Symbols shown are examples. Exact availability depends on your country, account type and the broker's current listings.
Fees & accounts
Trading Deribit: costs and where it's available
Fees and account types
Deribit charges maker and taker fees on perpetuals and futures as a percentage of the contract's notional value, with option fees structured separately. Perpetual taker fees have historically been a small fraction of a percent, and volume-based tiers can reduce them. Because AutoTrader sends market orders, expect the taker rate. Perpetual positions also pay or receive funding, which can outweigh fees over long holding periods. Check Deribit's fee page for current rates at the time of writing.
BTC-PERPETUAL is an inverse contract margined in bitcoin and sized in US dollar increments, while USDC-margined linear perpetuals are also listed. The collateral currency you hold determines which contracts your strategy can trade.
Availability and regulation
Deribit is headquartered in Dubai and operates under a license from Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, and it became part of Coinbase following the acquisition completed in 2025. It does not serve residents of the United States and restricts other jurisdictions under its terms of service. Derivatives trading is leveraged, and some countries limit retail access to crypto derivatives, so confirm your eligibility and complete verification before connecting a live account.
For automated trading
Automating Deribit: strengths and limitations
Strengths
- The Deribit testnet mirrors the live exchange with free test funds, so strategies can be run end to end in AutoTrader before risking real capital.
- BTC and ETH perpetuals are highly liquid and trade continuously, which suits 24/7 server-side strategies placing market orders.
- Scoped API keys let you grant trade access while keeping wallet and withdrawal functions completely disabled.
- Deribit's focus on professional traders means its API is designed for automated access, with detailed documentation and stable authentication.
Limitations
- Perpetuals are leveraged products: adverse moves can lead to liquidation, so AutoTrader's stop-loss and position sizing should be set conservatively.
- Funding payments accrue while a perpetual position is open, which can erode returns on slower strategies that hold for days or weeks.
- Deribit's range of underlying assets is narrow, centered on bitcoin and ether, so it offers little diversification compared with altcoin exchanges.
Get started
How to connect Deribit to AutoTrader
- 01
Log in to Deribit, open your account settings and go to the API tab, then choose to add a new key.
- 02
Set the trade scope to read and write so AutoTrader can place and manage orders, set the account scope to read so balances and positions can be checked, and keep the wallet scope at none or read so no withdrawals are possible.
- 03
Optionally restrict the key to specific IP addresses and give it a name such as AutoTrader for easy identification.
- 04
Copy the client ID and client secret. AutoTrader authenticates with these using Deribit's client credentials flow, so both values are required.
- 05
For practice, create a separate account on the Deribit testnet and generate a key there the same way; testnet keys only work against the testnet and never touch real funds.
- 06
In AutoTrader, open the Exchanges page, choose Deribit, paste the client ID and secret, and make sure you connect testnet keys for paper runs and live keys for real trading.
Strategy ideas
Strategies that suit Deribit
Volatility Trading Strategy
Bitcoin and ether perpetuals on Deribit see frequent volatility bursts that volatility-based entry rules can react to.
Read the strategy guide →Supertrend Indicator
Supertrend's ATR-based trailing line adapts to the fast swings of leveraged BTC and ETH perpetuals and gives clear exit levels.
Read the strategy guide →Average True Range (ATR)
ATR-based sizing and stop placement helps control risk on leveraged perpetual positions where liquidation is possible.
Read the strategy guide →FAQ
Deribit automation: frequently asked questions
Does Deribit have a testnet for automated trading?
Yes. Deribit runs a full testnet that copies the live exchange, with its own accounts, API keys and free test funds. You register separately on the testnet, create a key there, and connect it to AutoTrader in testnet mode. It is a practical way to check strategy logic, position sizing and stop-loss behavior on perpetuals before trading real funds.
What does AutoTrader trade on Deribit?
On Deribit, AutoTrader trades perpetual contracts such as BTC-PERPETUAL rather than spot or options. Orders are placed as market orders sized by your strategy's investment amount, and AutoTrader applies its own stop-loss and take-profit rules. Options trading on Deribit is not supported by AutoTrader, even though Deribit is best known for its options market.
Which Deribit API scopes should I enable?
Give the key read and write access to the trade scope so orders can be placed, and read access to the account scope so AutoTrader can check balances and positions. Leave the wallet scope with no access or read-only, so the key cannot move funds. You can also restrict the key to IP addresses and revoke it at any time from the API tab.
Can US residents use Deribit with AutoTrader?
No. Deribit does not accept residents of the United States and restricts several other jurisdictions, including some that limit retail access to crypto derivatives. Even after becoming part of Coinbase, Deribit's own eligibility rules still apply. Check the current restricted list on Deribit before signing up, and use the testnet to evaluate strategies if you are eligible.
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