To trade with Gimmer, you need to connect your exchange accounts. The process is straightforward, but getting it right matters — a misconfigured API key can mean the difference between smooth automated trading and unexpected errors. This guide walks through connecting Binance, KuCoin, and other supported exchanges to your Gimmer client.
Which Exchanges Does Gimmer Support?
Gimmer currently supports the following exchanges:
- Binance (including Binance.US)
- KuCoin
Both exchanges offer API access that lets Gimmer execute trades, read market data, and monitor your portfolio without giving us withdrawal access. More exchanges are added regularly — check the Gimmer client for the latest list.
Before You Start: Security Best Practices
Before generating any API keys, follow these rules:
- Disable withdrawals on the API key. Gimmer never needs to move your funds. An API key with withdrawal permissions is a security risk.
- Use IP whitelisting if your exchange supports it. Restrict the key to your local machine’s IP.
- Set appropriate permissions — enable trading and read-only market data. Disable everything else.
- Never share your secret key with anyone. Gimmer stores it encrypted on your local machine.
Connecting Binance
Step-by-step for Binance (the process is identical for Binance.US):
- Log in to your Binance account and navigate to API Management in your account settings.
- Click Create API. Select the option for a new API key (not the trading-only key if offered separately).
- Label your key something descriptive, like “Gimmer Desktop Bot”.
- Complete the security verification (email 2FA or authenticator app).
- Under API Restrictions, enable Enable Spot & Margin Trading. Ensure Enable Withdrawals is disabled.
- Copy the API Key and Secret Key to a secure location.
- Open Gimmer, go to Exchange Settings, select Binance, and paste your keys.
- Click Test Connection — Gimmer will verify the keys work before saving.
Connecting KuCoin
KuCoin’s API setup is similar but has its own nuances:
- Log in to KuCoin and go to API Management under your account settings.
- Click Create API and complete 2FA verification.
- Set a passphrase — this is mandatory for KuCoin API authentication. Store it alongside your keys.
- Under permissions, enable Spot Trading. Keep Withdrawal disabled.
- Copy your API Key, Secret Key, and Passphrase.
- In Gimmer, go to Exchange Settings, select KuCoin, and enter all three values.
- Use Test Connection to confirm everything works.
How Gimmer Stores Your Keys
Your API keys never leave your local machine without encryption. Gimmer uses AES-256 encryption for the local keystore, and your keys are only decrypted in memory when an API call is being made. We do not store exchange API keys on any remote server. The keystore itself is protected by your Gimmer login credentials, so even if someone gains physical access to your computer, they cannot extract your exchange keys.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Connection failing? Here are the most common causes:
- IP restriction mismatch — if you enabled IP whitelisting, make sure your current IP matches. If you are on a dynamic IP, consider disabling IP restrictions.
- Insufficient permissions — double-check that Spot Trading is enabled on your API key. If only “Read” is enabled, Gimmer cannot place trades.
- Withdrawal still enabled — some exchanges default to allowing withdrawals. This is not needed for Gimmer.
- Outdated Gimmer client — ensure you are running the latest version. Exchange API endpoints sometimes change.
Managing Multiple Exchange Accounts
Gimmer supports multiple exchange connections simultaneously. You can connect multiple Binance accounts, a mix of Binance and KuCoin, or any combination. Each connection is stored separately in the keystore, and you can assign different strategies to different exchange connections from the Strategy Editor.
Conclusion
Connecting your exchange to Gimmer takes about five minutes and is the only setup step that happens outside the Gimmer client itself. Follow the security best practices above, test your connection, and you are ready to start automated trading.
Up next: Security First — How Gimmer Protects Your API Keys and Trading Capital.
