Coinbase Guide

Video walkthrough #

1 — Create Coinbase API keys #

Coinbase uses the Coinbase Developer Platform (CDP) for API keys. Create a key with Trade permission and optionally restrict it to the TradeAdapter IP.

1. Log in to Coinbase Developer Platform

   Go to the Coinbase Developer Platform (CDP) and sign in with your Coinbase account.

2. Open API keys

   Navigate to Access → API keys and click to create a new API key.

3. Configure the key

   In the Create API key dialog set: an API key nickname (e.g. TradeAdapter), the Portfolio (e.g. Default), Permission level to include Trade (View and Transfer as needed), and add Allowlist IPs with 35.75.198.16 so only TradeAdapter can use this key.

4. Create & download

   Click Create & Download, complete 2-factor authentication with your CDP 2FA code, and save the JSON file. The file contains your API Key Name and Private Key — you will paste these into the alert message as coinbase_api_key and coinbase_api_secret.

5. Optional: copy from the popup

   In the final popup you can copy the API Key Name and Private Key (they are also in the JSON). Read the warning and click Got it to finish. Never share the Private Key.

2 — Select the Coinbase symbol in TradingView #

Open TradingView and search for the symbol using the COINBASE prefix. Coinbase supports Spot only; ensure you pick a Spot symbol that exists on Coinbase (e.g. COINBASE:BTCUSD, COINBASE:ETHUSD).

3 — Add your strategy #

This guide covers strategy alerts only. Load your Pine Script strategy onto the chart so it generates the trading signals.

Open Pine Editor, paste your strategy code, and click “Add to chart”. Open the Strategy Tester tab to confirm backtest results and that orders are generated.

Not sure if you have a strategy or an indicator? See Indicator vs Strategy. For indicator-based alerts on Coinbase, use the same message structure but set order_action and size manually; the Message Generator linked below is for strategy.

4 — Configure order size #

Coinbase enforces symbol-specific rules (min size, size step, price step). Configure your strategy’s position size so that {{strategy.order.contracts}} meets the symbol’s minimum and step. For Limit orders, ensure {{strategy.order.price}} respects the price step.

5 — Create the TradingView alert #

Press Alt + A (or the alarm clock icon) to create a new alert on your strategy.

Alert message (Strategy) #

Use this template for strategy-based alerts. Replace the placeholder values with your API key and secret; keep the TradingView placeholders as-is.

{
    "coinbase_api_key": "PUT YOUR COINBASE API KEY HERE",
    "coinbase_api_secret": "PUT YOUR COINBASE PRIVATE KEY HERE",
    "real_order": "No",
    "order_type": "Market",
    "order_market": "Spot",
    "exchange": "coinbase",
    "ticker": "{{ticker}}",
    "time": "{{timenow}}",
    "order_contracts": "{{strategy.order.contracts}}",
    "order_action": "{{strategy.order.action}}",
    "order_price": "{{strategy.order.price}}"
}

Open Coinbase Message Generator (Strategy)

Message fields explained #

6 — Execute & monitor #

1. Start with test orders

   Set "real_order": "No" and trigger a few alerts. Check MyTrades to see how TradeAdapter interprets your signals.

2. Verify on Coinbase

   When you set "real_order": "Yes", monitor your Coinbase account to confirm orders execute as expected.

3. Recreate alerts after changes

   If you change strategy parameters or the message, delete and recreate the TradingView alert so the new values are applied.

Important notes #