/ccxt-python

name: ccxt-python
description: CCXT cryptocurrency exchange library for Python developers. Covers both REST API (standard) and WebSocket API (real-time). Helps install CCXT, connect to exchanges, fetch market data, place orders, stream live tickers/orderbooks, handle authentication, and manage errors in Python. Use when working with crypto exchanges in Python projects, trading bots, data analysis, or portfolio management. Supports both sync and async (asyncio) usage.

CCXT for Python

A comprehensive guide to using CCXT in Python projects for cryptocurrency exchange integration.

Installation

REST API (Standard)

pip install ccxt

WebSocket API (Real-time, ccxt.pro)

pip install ccxt

Optional Performance Enhancements

pip install orjson      # Faster JSON parsing
pip install coincurve   # Faster ECDSA signing (45ms → 0.05ms)

Both REST and WebSocket APIs are included in the same package.

Quick Start

REST API - Synchronous

import ccxt

exchange = ccxt.binance()
exchange.load_markets()
ticker = exchange.fetch_ticker('BTC/USDT')
print(ticker)

REST API - Asynchronous

import asyncio
import ccxt.async_support as ccxt

async def main():
    exchange = ccxt.binance()
    await exchange.load_markets()
    ticker = await exchange.fetch_ticker('BTC/USDT')
    print(ticker)
    await exchange.close()  # Important!

asyncio.run(main())

WebSocket API - Real-time Updates

import asyncio
import ccxt.pro as ccxtpro

async def main():
    exchange = ccxtpro.binance()
    while True:
        ticker = await exchange.watch_ticker('BTC/USDT')
        print(ticker)  # Live updates!
    await exchange.close()

asyncio.run(main())

REST vs WebSocket

| Import | For REST | For WebSocket | |--------|----------|---------------| | **Sync** | `import ccxt` | (WebSocket requires async) | | **Async** | `import ccxt.async_support as ccxt` | `import ccxt.pro as ccxtpro` |

| Feature | REST API | WebSocket API | |---------|----------|---------------| | **Use for** | One-time queries, placing orders | Real-time monitoring, live price feeds | | **Method prefix** | `fetch_*` (fetch_ticker, fetch_order_book) | `watch_*` (watch_ticker, watch_order_book) | | **Speed** | Slower (HTTP request/response) | Faster (persistent connection) | | **Rate limits** | Strict (1-2 req/sec) | More lenient (continuous stream) | | **Best for** | Trading, account management | Price monitoring, arbitrage detection |

**When to use REST:**

• Placing orders
• Fetching account balance
• One-time data queries
• Order management (cancel, fetch orders)

**When to use WebSocket:**

• Real-time price monitoring
• Live orderbook updates
• Arbitrage detection
• Portfolio tracking with live updates

Creating Exchange Instance

REST API - Synchronous

import ccxt

# Public API (no authentication)
exchange = ccxt.binance({
    'enableRateLimit': True  # Recommended!
})

# Private API (with authentication)
exchange = ccxt.binance({
    'apiKey': 'YOUR_API_KEY',
    'secret': 'YOUR_SECRET',
    'enableRateLimit': True
})

REST API - Asynchronous

import ccxt.async_support as ccxt

exchange = ccxt.binance({
    'apiKey': 'YOUR_API_KEY',
    'secret': 'YOUR_SECRET',
    'enableRateLimit': True
})

# Always close when done
await exchange.close()

WebSocket API

import ccxt.pro as ccxtpro

# Public WebSocket
exchange = ccxtpro.binance()

# Private WebSocket (with authentication)
exchange = ccxtpro.binance({
    'apiKey': 'YOUR_API_KEY',
    'secret': 'YOUR_SECRET'
})

# Always close when done
await exchange.close()

Common REST Operations

Loading Markets

# Load all available trading pairs
exchange.load_markets()

# Access market information
btc_market = exchange.market('BTC/USDT')
print(btc_market['limits']['amount']['min'])  # Minimum order amount

Fetching Ticker

# Single ticker
ticker = exchange.fetch_ticker('BTC/USDT')
print(ticker['last'])      # Last price
print(ticker['bid'])       # Best bid
print(ticker['ask'])       # Best ask
print(ticker['volume'])    # 24h volume

# Multiple tickers (if supported)
tickers = exchange.fetch_tickers(['BTC/USDT', 'ETH/USDT'])

Fetching Order Book

# Full orderbook
orderbook = exchange.fetch_order_book('BTC/USDT')
print(orderbook['bids'][0])  # [price, amount]
print(orderbook['asks'][0])  # [price, amount]

# Limited depth
orderbook = exchange.fetch_order_book('BTC/USDT', 5)  # Top 5 levels

Creating Orders

Limit Order

# Buy limit order
order = exchange.create_limit_buy_order('BTC/USDT', 0.01, 50000)
print(order['id'])

# Sell limit order
order = exchange.create_limit_sell_order('BTC/USDT', 0.01, 60000)

# Generic limit order
order = exchange.create_order('BTC/USDT', 'limit', 'buy', 0.01, 50000)

Market Order

# Buy market order
order = exchange.create_market_buy_order('BTC/USDT', 0.01)

# Sell market order
order = exchange.create_market_sell_order('BTC/USDT', 0.01)

# Generic market order
order = exchange.create_order('BTC/USDT', 'market', 'sell', 0.01)

Fetching Balance

balance = exchange.fetch_balance()
print(balance['BTC']['free'])   # Available balance
print(balance['BTC']['used'])   # Balance in orders
print(balance['BTC']['total'])  # Total balance

Fetching Orders

# Open orders
open_orders = exchange.fetch_open_orders('BTC/USDT')

# Closed orders
closed_orders = exchange.fetch_closed_orders('BTC/USDT')

# All orders (open + closed)
all_orders = exchange.fetch_orders('BTC/USDT')

# Single order by ID
order = exchange.fetch_order(order_id, 'BTC/USDT')

Fetching Trades

# Recent public trades
trades = exchange.fetch_trades('BTC/USDT', limit=10)

# Your trades (requires authentication)
my_trades = exchange.fetch_my_trades('BTC/USDT')

Canceling Orders

# Cancel single order
exchange.can