Connecting Coinbase

This guide walks you through connecting your Coinbase account to TradeStaq for automated trading.

Overview

Coinbase is one of the most trusted cryptocurrency exchanges, offering:

• Spot Trading - Major cryptocurrency pairs
• High Security - US-regulated, publicly traded company
• Fiat On-ramps - Easy USD, EUR, GBP deposits
• Beginner Friendly - Simple interface
• Institutional Grade - Coinbase Prime for advanced users

Prerequisites

Before connecting Coinbase:

1. Coinbase Account - Create at coinbase.com
2. ID Verification - Complete identity verification (required for API access)
3. 2FA Enabled - Two-factor authentication must be active
4. TradeStaq Account - Sign up at tradestaq.com

Important: Coinbase vs Coinbase Advanced

TradeStaq connects to Coinbase Advanced Trade (formerly Coinbase Pro). If you only have a basic Coinbase account, your funds will automatically be available in Advanced Trade.

Step 1: Access API Settings

1. Log in to coinbase.com
2. Click your profile icon → Settings
3. Navigate to the API tab
4. Or go directly: coinbase.com/settings/api

Step 2: Create API Key

1. Click + New API Key
2. Select the accounts you want to grant access to:
   • Select your trading portfolios
   • Typically "Default Portfolio" is sufficient

Step 3: Configure Permissions

Required Permissions

Setting Permissions

Select these scopes:

• ✅ wallet:accounts:read - View account balances
• ✅ wallet:trades:read - View trade history
• ✅ wallet:orders:read - View orders
• ✅ wallet:orders:create - Place orders
• ✅ wallet:orders:cancel - Cancel orders

Do NOT select:

• ❌ wallet:transactions:send - Withdrawals
• ❌ wallet:addresses:create - Create deposit addresses
• ❌ Any transfer/send permissions

Step 4: Security Settings

1. API Key Nickname: Enter TradeStaq Trading Bot
2. IP Whitelist (Optional): Add TradeStaq's IP addresses for extra security
3. Complete 2FA verification

Step 5: Copy API Credentials

After creation, Coinbase displays:

1. API Key - Your public identifier
2. API Secret - Private key (shown once only)

API Key:    xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx
API Secret: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

IMPORTANT: Save the API Secret immediately. You cannot view it again.

Step 6: Connect to TradeStaq

1. Go to TradeStaq Dashboard
2. Click Exchanges → Add Exchange
3. Select Coinbase from the list
4. Enter your credentials:

5. Click Connect Exchange

Step 7: Verify Connection

After connecting:

1. Check the status shows Active (green indicator)
2. Verify your balance is displayed correctly
3. Test by viewing available trading pairs

Supported Features

Note: Coinbase is spot-only. For futures trading, use another supported exchange.

Trading Pairs

Available Pairs

Coinbase offers major cryptocurrency pairs including:

• BTC pairs: BTC/USD, BTC/EUR, BTC/GBP
• ETH pairs: ETH/USD, ETH/EUR, ETH/BTC
• Major alts: SOL/USD, AVAX/USD, DOT/USD
• Stablecoins: USDC/USD, DAI/USD

Pair Naming

Coinbase uses standard naming conventions:

• Spot: BTC-USD, ETH-USD
• In TradeStaq, displayed as: BTC/USD, ETH/USD

Security Best Practices

Do's

• ✅ Use hardware key 2FA if available
• ✅ Enable login notifications
• ✅ Use a unique, strong password
• ✅ Review connected apps periodically
• ✅ Enable IP whitelist for API keys

Don'ts

• ❌ Never enable withdrawal/transfer permissions
• ❌ Never share API credentials
• ❌ Never store keys in unsecured locations
• ❌ Never use the same key for multiple services

Coinbase-Specific Notes

Trading Fees

Fees decrease with higher volume. Check Coinbase for current fee schedule.

Fiat Currency Support

Coinbase supports multiple fiat currencies:

• USD, EUR, GBP
• Direct bank transfers available
• Instant deposits with linked accounts

Advanced Trade Features

• Real-time market data
• Advanced order types
• Trading view charts
• Portfolio tracking

Troubleshooting

API Key Rejected

Solutions:

• Verify key and secret are copied correctly
• Ensure no extra spaces or characters
• Check API key hasn't been revoked
• Verify 2FA is still enabled on account

Permission Denied

Solutions:

• Check all required permissions are enabled
• Verify the API key has trade permissions
• Ensure selected accounts match trading account

Balance Not Showing

Solutions:

• Confirm funds are in Advanced Trade portfolio
• Check API key has view permissions
• Wait a moment and refresh the connection

Order Rejected

Solutions:

• Verify sufficient balance for trade
• Check order meets minimum size requirements
• Ensure trading pair is available on Coinbase

Connection Timeout

Solutions:

• Check internet connection
• Verify Coinbase status page for outages
• Try disconnecting and reconnecting

Coinbase Status

Check Coinbase system status:

• status.coinbase.com

API Documentation

For advanced users:

• Coinbase API Docs: docs.cdp.coinbase.com

Next Steps

• Paper Trading - Practice risk-free
• Creating a Bot - Set up your first bot
• Custom Strategies - Write trading strategies
• Exchange Overview - Compare all exchanges