Binance Perpetual Futures Setup

Connect your Binance Futures account to SignalBee for automated perpetual contract trading. This guide walks you through enabling futures trading, creating API keys with the correct permissions, and configuring your account for automated signals.

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Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• Verified Binance account - Identity verification (KYC) completed
• 2FA enabled on Binance - Required for API key creation
• Futures trading enabled - Must activate Futures account on Binance
• Futures quiz completed - Binance may require a quiz before trading
• SignalBee account - Ready to connect an exchange
• Password manager - For storing your API credentials securely

Important: Binance Futures is a separate account from Binance Spot. You must explicitly enable Futures trading and transfer funds to your Futures wallet before you can trade.

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About Binance Futures

Binance Futures is the world's largest cryptocurrency derivatives exchange by trading volume:

Order Type Support

SignalBee supports all Binance Futures order types:

Note: Unlike Binance Spot, Binance Futures supports stop-loss and take-profit orders natively. This allows for more sophisticated risk management strategies.

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Enabling Futures Trading on Binance

You must complete this section BEFORE creating your API key. If you create an API key without enabling Futures first, the key will not have Futures capabilities.

1. Go to www.binance.com
2. Log in with your email/phone and password
3. Complete 2FA verification
4. Hover over Derivatives in the main navigation menu
5. Select USD-S-M Futures from the dropdown

Activate Your Futures Account

If this is your first time:

1. Binance will prompt you to Open a Futures Account
2. Click the activation button
3. Read and accept the Futures trading agreement

Complete the Futures Quiz

Binance may require you to pass a quiz before trading:

1. Answer questions about leverage, margin, and liquidation risks
2. The quiz ensures you understand derivatives trading
3. You may need to re-take the quiz if you don't pass

Transfer Funds to Futures Wallet

Funds must be in your Futures wallet, not your Spot wallet:

1. Click Transfer on the Futures page
2. Select Spot as the source
3. Select USD-S-M Futures as the destination
4. Enter the amount of USDT to transfer
5. Click Confirm

Important: Your Spot wallet balance does NOT affect Futures trading. You must explicitly transfer funds to trade futures.

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Creating Your API Key

Follow these steps to create an API key with Futures permissions:

Step 1: Log In to Binance

1. Go to www.binance.com
2. Log in with your email/phone and password
3. Complete 2FA verification (authenticator app or SMS)

Step 2: Navigate to API Management

1. Click your profile icon in the top-right corner
2. Select API Management from the dropdown menu
3. You'll see a list of your existing API keys (if any)

Step 3: Create a New API Key

1. Click the Create API button
2. Select System-generated (recommended)
3. Click Next

Step 4: Label Your API Key

1. Enter a descriptive label: SignalBee Futures
2. A clear label helps you identify this key's purpose later
3. Click Next

Tip: Use specific labels like "SignalBee-Futures" to distinguish from any Spot-only keys you may have.

Step 5: Complete Security Verification

Binance requires multiple verification steps:

1. Authenticator App - Enter the 6-digit code from your authenticator
2. Email Verification - Click the link sent to your registered email
3. Wait for verification to complete

Step 6: Copy Your Keys IMMEDIATELY

After verification, Binance displays your API credentials:

Warning: If you close this page without copying your Secret Key, you'll need to delete this API key and create a new one. There is no way to recover a Secret Key.

Save both keys in your password manager now before proceeding.

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Configuring Permissions

After creating your API key, configure the permissions. This is critical for both security and functionality.

Required Permissions

Optional Permissions

Never Enable These Permissions

Critical: You MUST enable the Futures permission. Without this, SignalBee cannot place futures orders even if your API key is valid.

How to Edit Permissions

1. In API Management, find your SignalBee Futures API key
2. Click Edit next to the key
3. Check Enable Reading and Enable Futures
4. Make sure Enable Withdrawals is NOT checked
5. Click Save
6. Complete 2FA verification to confirm changes

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IP Whitelist Configuration

IP whitelisting restricts your API key to only work from specific IP addresses. This is optional but adds a strong security layer.

Why Use IP Whitelisting?

Even if your API key is somehow exposed, it won't work from unauthorized IP addresses.

SignalBee Server IP Addresses

Note: Contact support@signalbee.trade to request SignalBee's current production IP addresses for whitelisting. We maintain static IPs specifically for exchange API calls and will notify you before any infrastructure changes.

How to Configure IP Whitelisting

1. In API Management, find your SignalBee Futures API key
2. Click Edit
3. Find the Restrict access to trusted IPs only option
4. Click Add IP Address
5. Enter each SignalBee IP address provided by support
6. Click Save
7. Complete 2FA verification

If You Skip IP Whitelisting

If you choose not to use IP whitelisting:

1. Select Unrestricted for IP access
2. Understand this is less secure but still safe if withdrawals are disabled
3. Your other security measures (no withdrawal permission) still protect your funds

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Adding to SignalBee

Now connect your Binance Futures API key to SignalBee:

Step 1: Go to Exchanges Page

1. Log in to your SignalBee account
2. Navigate to Exchanges in the main menu

Step 2: Add New Exchange

1. Click the Add Exchange button
2. Select Binance Perpetual from the exchange list

Critical: Make sure you select Binance Perpetual, NOT "Binance". These are different exchange connections for different account types.

Step 3: Enter Your Credentials

Note: Binance does NOT require a passphrase. Only API Key and Secret Key are needed.

Step 4: Test the Connection

1. Click Save and Test Connection
2. Wait for SignalBee to verify your credentials
3. Look for the success message

Step 5: Verify Your Setup

After successful connection:

1. Your Binance Futures balances should appear in SignalBee
2. Check that your USDT balance matches your Futures wallet
3. If you see your Spot balance instead, you may have selected the wrong exchange type

Tip: If balances don't appear or show $0, verify that:

• You selected "Binance Perpetual" (not "Binance")
• Your API key has the Futures permission enabled
• You have transferred funds to your Futures wallet

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Binance Futures-Specific Considerations

Ticker Format

Binance Futures uses the same ticker format as Binance Spot:

SignalBee automatically converts between formats. When configuring webhooks or whitelists, you can use either format.

Contract Types

SignalBee primarily supports USDT-margined perpetual contracts.

Minimum Order Sizes

Binance Futures enforces minimum notional values:

Tip: Check Binance Futures trading rules for current minimums.

Trading Fees

Note: Futures fees are lower than Spot fees. Hold BNB and enable "Use BNB for fees" for additional discounts.

API Rate Limits

• Binance imposes rate limits on API requests
• SignalBee handles rate limiting automatically
• If you see rate limit errors, reduce your signal frequency

Testnet for Practice

Binance provides a Futures testnet for practice:

• Testnet URL: testnet.binancefuture.com
• Create separate testnet API keys
• Practice trading without risking real funds
• Test your signal configurations before going live

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Position Mode Configuration

Binance Futures supports two position modes. Choose based on your trading strategy:

One-way Mode (Default)

Hedge Mode

How to Change Position Mode

1. Go to Binance Futures trading page
2. Click the Settings icon (gear)
3. Select Preference
4. Find Position Mode
5. Choose One-way Mode or Hedge Mode
6. Confirm the change

Important: You cannot change position mode while you have open positions or pending orders. Close all positions and cancel all orders first.

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Leverage and Margin Configuration

Setting Leverage

Leverage is configured per trading pair on Binance:

1. Open the trading page for your desired pair (e.g., BTCUSDT)
2. Click the leverage display (e.g., "20x")
3. Use the slider to select your desired leverage (1x to 125x)
4. Click Confirm

Recommendation: Start with 5x leverage or less until you're comfortable with futures trading. Higher leverage means faster liquidation.

Margin Types

How to Switch Margin Type

1. On the trading page, find the margin mode indicator
2. Click to switch between Cross and Isolated
3. For Isolated, you can set the margin amount per position

Tip: Isolated margin limits your maximum loss to the margin allocated to that position. Cross margin uses your entire Futures balance.

Understanding Liquidation

When your position losses exceed your margin:

• Your position is automatically closed (liquidated)
• You lose the margin allocated to that position
• With cross margin, liquidation uses more of your wallet balance

Liquidation price is shown on each open position. Always know your liquidation price before entering a trade.

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Troubleshooting

Common Binance Futures-specific errors and solutions:

Connection Test Fails?

If your connection test fails in SignalBee:

1. Verify exchange selection - Must be "Binance Perpetual", not "Binance"
2. Double-check both keys - Copy-paste errors are the most common issue
3. Verify Futures permission - Most common cause of failed connections
4. Check Futures is enabled - You must have activated Futures on Binance
5. Wait a few minutes - New API keys may take 1-2 minutes to activate
6. Check IP whitelist - Disable IP restriction temporarily to test

Funds Show as $0?

If SignalBee shows $0 balance:

1. Verify exchange type - "Binance Perpetual" shows Futures wallet, "Binance" shows Spot wallet
2. Transfer funds - Funds must be in Futures wallet, not Spot
3. Check Reading permission - API key needs Reading enabled

For persistent issues, see our Error Codes Reference or contact support@signalbee.trade.

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Risk Warnings

CRITICAL: Perpetual futures trading carries significant risk. Read this section carefully.

Leverage Amplifies Both Gains AND Losses

Higher leverage = faster liquidation. A 1% adverse price movement with 100x leverage results in complete loss.

Liquidation is Automatic and Final

• When margin is depleted, your position is forcibly closed
• You lose the entire margin allocated to that position
• There is no way to recover from liquidation
• Liquidation fees apply on top of losses

Funding Rates Affect Position Costs

• Perpetual contracts have funding payments every 8 hours
• If you're long and funding is positive, you pay shorts
• If you're short and funding is positive, you receive payment
• Funding can significantly affect profitability of longer-term positions

Risk Management Best Practices

• Start with low leverage (5x or less) until experienced
• Always use stop-losses to limit potential losses
• Never trade with funds you can't afford to lose
• Size positions appropriately - don't risk entire account
• Understand your liquidation price before entering trades
• Monitor funding rates for held positions
• Practice on testnet first before trading real funds
• Consider isolated margin to limit maximum loss per trade

Not Suitable For

Futures trading may not be appropriate if you:

• Are new to cryptocurrency trading
• Cannot afford to lose your entire investment
• Don't understand leverage and liquidation mechanics
• Are unable to monitor positions regularly
• Have high risk aversion

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Security Best Practices

Follow this checklist to keep your Binance account secure:

Binance Account Security

• Enable 2FA with an authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy) - more secure than SMS
• Set up your anti-phishing code in Binance settings
• Enable withdrawal whitelist - restricts withdrawals to pre-approved addresses
• Use a unique, strong password for Binance

API Key Security

• Create a dedicated API key just for SignalBee Futures
• Never enable withdrawal permission - SignalBee never needs it
• Consider IP whitelisting for maximum security
• Never share your Secret Key via email, chat, or screenshots
• Store keys in a password manager (1Password, Bitwarden, etc.)
• Use separate API keys for Spot and Futures if using both

Ongoing Security

• Review your API keys periodically - delete any you don't recognize
• Rotate API keys every 90 days as a security habit
• Monitor trade and position history for unauthorized activity
• Keep your email secure - it's used for Binance account recovery

Security Note: Even with all precautions, the most important protection is never enabling withdrawal permissions. Without this permission, your funds cannot be moved off the exchange even if everything else is compromised.

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Related Resources

• Binance Spot Setup - For spot trading on Binance
• API Key Best Practices - General API key security guidance
• Security Overview - How SignalBee protects your data
• Error Codes Reference - Common error messages explained