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My bot isn't trading

A diagnostic checklist for when the bot is running but nothing seems to happen.

Step 1: confirm the bot is running

On /me/bot, the bot status should say "Running." If it says "Stopped" or "Provisioned but not started," click "Start" and wait ~5 seconds.

Step 2: check the "Last tick" timestamp

On the dashboard, look for the latest tick time. It should update every few seconds. If it's many minutes old, the bot is alive per systemd but stuck in a loop — see My bot stopped unexpectedly.

Step 3: are any pairs configured?

On /me/bot/config, you should see at least one pair. Empty config = no trades. Add a pair from the dropdown.

Step 4: are pairs enabled?

Each pair has an "Enabled" toggle. Disabled pairs are tracked but won't place new buys. Check that at least one pair is enabled.

Step 5: drop thresholds + market quiet

The DCA strategy only places entries when a pair drops by your configured drop %. If the market is flat / rising, no entries fire. This is normal. The dashboard's activity feed should still show the bot ticking — just not buying.

Step 6: USD balance

Check your Kraken USD balance. The bot needs enough USD to fund the entry size for at least one pair. If your USD is tied up in open positions, no new entries will fire.

Activity feed will log buy_skipped_insufficient_funds if it's tried to buy and failed. See Insufficient funds — what it means.

Step 7: Kraken keys valid

If your Kraken keys are rejected, the bot can't read your balance or place orders. Check the bell icon for security notifications and the activity feed for kraken_keys_invalid or authentication-error events.

See Kraken keys are being rejected.

Step 8: subscription active

If your subscription has lapsed (payment failure, trial expired), the bot will refuse to place new buys. The billing page shows your current status. If past_due, update your card via the Stripe portal.

Still stuck?

Email support@volatility.farm with:

  • Your username.
  • The last few lines from your dashboard activity feed.
  • What you've already tried.