KuCoin Exchange Setup

Connect your KuCoin account to SignalBee in minutes. This guide walks you through creating and configuring API keys with the exact permissions needed for automated trading.

Important: KuCoin requires three values for API authentication: API Key, API Secret, AND API Passphrase. You must save all three when creating your key.

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Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• Verified KuCoin account - Identity verification (KYC) completed
• 2FA enabled on KuCoin - Required for API key creation
• Trading password set - KuCoin requires this for security operations (see next section)
• SignalBee account - Ready to connect an exchange
• Password manager - For storing your API credentials securely

Security Note: KuCoin requires 2FA (two-factor authentication) to create API keys. If you haven't enabled 2FA yet, go to Security → 2FA Settings in your KuCoin account.

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Understanding KuCoin's Trading Password

KuCoin has a unique security feature called a Trading Password that's separate from your login password.

What Is a Trading Password?

The trading password adds an extra layer of security for financial operations.

How to Set Up Your Trading Password

1. Log in to your KuCoin account
2. Click your profile icon → Security
3. Find Trading Password section
4. Click Set and follow the prompts
5. Save your trading password securely

Warning: Your Trading Password is different from your API Passphrase! The Trading Password is set once in Security Settings. The API Passphrase is created separately for each API key. Don't confuse these two.

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Creating Your API Key

Follow these steps to create an API key on KuCoin.

Step 1: Log In to KuCoin

1. Go to www.kucoin.com
2. Log in with your email/phone and password
3. Complete 2FA verification

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. You may need to complete 2FA verification again

Step 4: Configure Your API Key

1. API Name - Enter a descriptive label: SignalBee Trading
2. API Passphrase - Create a secure passphrase (like a password)

Tip: Use specific labels like "SignalBee-Spot" or "SignalBee-Main" if you plan to create multiple keys for different purposes.

Step 5: Set Permissions

Configure the permissions for your API key (see Configuring Permissions section for details):

1. ✅ Enable General - View account info
2. ✅ Enable Trade - Place orders
3. ❌ Do NOT enable Withdrawal - Never needed

Step 6: IP Whitelist (Optional)

1. Leave No Limit selected for unrestricted access, OR
2. Add specific IP addresses for enhanced security (see IP Whitelist Configuration)

Step 7: Complete Security Verification

1. Trading Password - Enter your trading password
2. Authenticator Code - Enter the 6-digit 2FA code
3. Email Verification - Click the link sent to your email
4. Wait for verification to complete

Step 8: Save ALL THREE Values IMMEDIATELY

After verification, KuCoin displays your API credentials. You MUST save all three:

Warning: If you lose your API Secret or forget your API Passphrase, you'll need to delete this API key and create a new one. There is no way to recover these values.

Save all three values in your password manager now before proceeding.

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Configuring Permissions

Configure the correct permissions to balance functionality and security.

Required Permissions

Optional Permissions

Never Enable These Permissions

Security Note: Even if your API key is somehow compromised, funds cannot be withdrawn without withdrawal permissions enabled. This is your most important security protection.

How to Edit Permissions

1. In API Management, find your SignalBee API key
2. Click the Edit button next to the key
3. Modify the permission checkboxes as needed
4. Click Confirm
5. Complete 2FA and trading password verification

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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. When creating or editing your API key, find the IP Limit section
2. Select Specify IP addresses
3. Enter each SignalBee IP address (one per line)
4. Click Confirm
5. Complete verification

If You Skip IP Whitelisting

If you choose not to use IP whitelisting:

1. Select No Limit 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 KuCoin 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 KuCoin from the exchange list

Step 3: Enter Your Credentials

KuCoin requires three fields - this is unique compared to most exchanges:

1. API Key - Paste your KuCoin API key
2. API Secret - Paste your KuCoin Secret key
3. API Passphrase - Enter the passphrase you created when making the API key

Warning: The API Passphrase is NOT your trading password. It's the passphrase you specifically created for this API key in Step 4 of the creation process.

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 KuCoin balances should appear in SignalBee
2. Check that your expected assets are listed
3. Balances confirm the General permission is working

Tip: If balances don't appear, verify that funds are in your Trading account (not Main). See Account Types below.

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KuCoin-Specific Considerations

Ticker Format

KuCoin uses a dash separator in trading pair symbols:

When configuring webhooks or signals, use the KuCoin format with dashes: BTC-USDT, ETH-USDT, etc.

Account Types

KuCoin separates funds into different accounts. Funds must be in the Trading account for spot trades:

How to Transfer Funds to Trading Account

If your funds are in the Main account:

1. Log in to KuCoin
2. Go to Assets → Main Account
3. Click Transfer next to the asset you want to move
4. Select Main Account → Trading Account
5. Enter the amount and confirm

Tip: This internal transfer is free and instant.

Minimum Order Sizes

KuCoin enforces minimum order values:

Tip: Check KuCoin's trading rules for current minimum order sizes for specific pairs.

Trading Fees

Tip: Hold KCS (KuCoin's native token) in your account and enable "Pay fees with KCS" in KuCoin settings to get fee discounts.

API Rate Limits

• KuCoin imposes rate limits on API requests
• SignalBee handles rate limiting automatically
• If you see rate limit errors, reduce your signal frequency or check for duplicate webhooks

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Troubleshooting

Common KuCoin-specific errors and solutions:

Connection Test Fails?

If your connection test fails in SignalBee:

1. Verify all THREE values - API Key, Secret, AND Passphrase must all be correct
2. Check the Passphrase - Most common error. This is NOT your trading password.
3. Wait a few minutes - New API keys may take 1-2 minutes to activate
4. Verify permissions - Ensure General permission is enabled
5. Check IP whitelist - Change to "No Limit" temporarily to test

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

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Security Best Practices

Follow this checklist to keep your KuCoin account secure:

KuCoin Account Security

• Enable 2FA with an authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy) - more secure than SMS
• Set a strong trading password - different from your login password
• Use a unique, strong login password for KuCoin (not reused from other sites)
• Enable withdrawal whitelist on KuCoin - restricts withdrawals to pre-approved addresses only

API Key Security

• Create a dedicated API key just for SignalBee - don't reuse keys across services
• Never enable withdrawal permission - SignalBee never needs it
• Consider IP whitelisting for maximum security
• Never share your API Secret via email, chat, or screenshots
• Never share your API Passphrase - treat it like a password
• Store all THREE credentials in a password manager (1Password, Bitwarden, etc.)

Ongoing Security

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

Security Note: Even with all these 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

• API Key Best Practices - General API key security guidance
• Security Overview - How SignalBee protects your data
• Error Codes Reference - Common error messages explained