Futures, Spot and NFT - REST and Websocket API Python SDK for the Kraken Cryptocurrency Exchange 🐙

> ⚠️ This is an unofficial collection of REST and websocket clients for Spot and > Futures trading on the Kraken cryptocurrency exchange using Python. Payward > Ltd. and Kraken are in no way associated with the authors of this package and > documentation. > > Please note that this project is independent and not endorsed by Kraken or > Payward Ltd. Users should be aware that they are using third-party software, > and the authors of this project are not responsible for any issues, losses, or > risks associated with its usage.

📌 Disclaimer

There is no guarantee that this software will work flawlessly at this or later times. Of course, no responsibility is taken for possible profits or losses. This software probably has some errors in it, so use it at your own risk. Also no one should be motivated or tempted to invest assets in speculative forms of investment. By using this software you release the author(s) from any liability regarding the use of this software.

---

Features

General:

• command-line interface
• access both public and private, REST and websocket endpoints
• responsive error handling and custom exceptions
• extensive example scripts (see /examples and /tests)
• tested using the pytest framework
• releases are permanently archived at Zenodo

Available Clients:

• Spot REST Clients (sync and async; including access to NFT trading)
• Spot Websocket Client (using Websocket API v2)
• Spot Orderbook Client (using Websocket API v2)
• Futures REST Clients (sync and async)
• Futures Websocket Client

Documentation:

• https://python-kraken-sdk.readthedocs.io/en/stable
• https://python-kraken-sdk.readthedocs.io/en/latest

---

❗️ Attention

ONLY tagged releases are available at PyPI. So the content of the master may not match with the content of the latest release. - Please have a look at the release specific READMEs and changelogs.

It is also recommended to pin the used version to avoid unexpected behavior on new releases.

---

Table of Contents

• Installation and setup
• Command-line interface
• Spot Clients
• Futures Clients
• Troubleshooting
• Contributions
• Notes
• Considerations
• References

🛠 Installation and setup

1. Install the package into the desired environment

python3 -m pip install python-kraken-sdk

2. Register at Kraken and generate API keys

• Spot Trading: https://www.kraken.com/u/security/api
• Futures Trading: https://futures.kraken.com/trade/settings/api (see help)
• Futures Sandbox: https://demo-futures.kraken.com/settings/api

3. Start using the provided example scripts

4. Error handling

If any unexpected behavior occurs, please check your API permissions, rate limits, update the python-kraken-sdk, see the Troubleshooting section, and if the error persists please open an issue.

📍 Command-line interface

The python-kraken-sdk provides a command-line interface to access the Kraken API using basic instructions while performing authentication tasks in the background. The Spot, NFT and Futures API are accessible and follow the pattern kraken {spot,futures} [OPTIONS] URL. See examples below.

# get server time
kraken spot https://api.kraken.com/0/public/Time
{'unixtime': 1716707589, 'rfc1123': 'Sun, 26 May 24 07:13:09 +0000'}

# get user's balances
kraken spot --api-key= --secret-key= -X POST https://api.kraken.com/0/private/Balance
{'ATOM': '17.28229999', 'BCH': '0.0000077100', 'ZUSD': '1000.0000'}

# get user's trade balances
kraken spot --api-key= --secret-key= -X POST https://api.kraken.com/0/private/TradeBalance --data '{"asset": "DOT"}'
{'eb': '2.8987347115', 'tb': '1.1694303513', 'm': '0.0000000000', 'uv': '0', 'n': '0.0000000000', 'c': '0.0000000000', 'v': '0.0000000000', 'e': '1.1694303513', 'mf': '1.1694303513'}

# get 1D candles for a futures instrument
kraken futures https://futures.kraken.com/api/charts/v1/spot/PI_XBTUSD/1d
{'candles': [{'time': 1625616000000, 'open': '34557.84000000000', 'high': '34803.20000000000', 'low': '33816.32000000000', 'close': '33880.22000000000', 'volume': '0' ...

# get user's open futures positions
kraken futures --api-key= --secret-key= https://futures.kraken.com/derivatives/api/v3/openpositions
{'result': 'success', 'openPositions': [], 'serverTime': '2024-05-26T07:15:38.91Z'}

... All endpoints of the Kraken Spot and Futurs API can be accessed like that.

📍 Spot Clients

The python-kraken-sdk provides lots of functions to easily access most of the REST and websocket endpoints of the Kraken Cryptocurrency Exchange API. Since these endpoints and their parameters may change, all implemented endpoints are tested on a regular basis.

The Kraken Spot API can be accessed by executing requests to the endpoints directly using the request method provided by any client. This is demonstrated below.

See https://docs.kraken.com/api/docs/guides/global-intro for information about the available endpoints and their usage.

SpotClient

The Spot client provides access to all un-and authenticated endpoints of Kraken's Spot and NFT API.

from kraken.spot import SpotClient

client = SpotClient(key="", secret="")
print(client.request("POST", "/0/private/Balance"))

SpotAsyncClient

The async Spot client allows for asynchronous access to Kraken's Spot and NFT API endpoints. Below are two examples demonstrating its usage.

Using SpotAsyncClient without a context manager; In this example, the client is manually closed after the request is made.

import asyncio
from kraken.spot import SpotAsyncClient

async def main():
    client = SpotAsyncClient(key="", secret="")
    try:
        response = await client.request("POST", "/0/private/Balance")
        print(response)
    finally:
        await client.async_close()

asyncio.run(main())

Using SpotAsyncClient as a context manager; This example demonstrates the use of the context manager, which ensures the client is automatically closed after the request is completed.

import asyncio
from kraken.spot import SpotAsyncClient

async def main():
    async with SpotAsyncClient(key="", secret="") as client:
        response = await client.request("POST", "/0/private/Balance")
        print(response)

asyncio.run(main())

SpotWSClient (Websocket API)

Kraken offers two versions of their websocket API (V1 and V2). Since V2 is offers more possibilities, is way faster and easier to use, only the never version is supported by this SDK.

The official documentation for can be found at:

• https://docs.kraken.com/api/docs/guides/global-intro
• https://docs.kraken.com/websockets-v2

Note that authenticated Spot websocket clients can also un-/subscribe from/to public feeds.

The example below can be found in an extended way in examples/spot_ws_examples.py.

import asyncio
from kraken.spot import SpotWSClient

class Client(SpotWSClient):
    """Can be used to create a custom trading strategy"""

    async def on_message(self, message):
        """Receives the websocket messages"""
        if message.get("method") == "pong" \
            or message.get("channel") == "heartbeat":
            return

        print(message)
        # Here we can access lots of methods, for example to create an order:
        # if self.is_auth:  # only if the client is authenticated …
        #     await self.send_message(
        #         message={
        #             "method": "add_order",
        #             "params": {
        #                 "limit_price": 1234.56,
        #                 "order_type": "limit",
        #                 "order_userref": 123456789,
        #                 "order_qty": 1.0,
        #                 "side": "buy",
        #                 "symbol": "BTC/USD",
        #                 "validate": True,
        #             },
        #         }
        #     )
        # … it is also possible to call regular REST endpoints
        # but using the websocket messages is more efficient.
        # You can also un-/subscribe here using self.subscribe/self.unsubscribe.

async def main():

    # Public/unauthenticated websocket client
    client = Client()  # only use this one if you don't need private feeds
    await client.start()
    await client.subscribe(
        params={"channel": "ticker", "symbol": ["BTC/USD", "DOT/USD"]}
    )
    await client.subscribe(
        params={"channel": "book", "depth": 25, "symbol": ["BTC/USD"]}
    )
    # wait because unsubscribing is faster than unsubscribing … (just for that example)
    await asyncio.sleep(3)
    # print(client.active_public_subscriptions) # to list active subscriptions
    await client.unsubscribe(
        params={"channel": "ticker", "symbol": ["BTC/USD", "DOT/USD"]}
    )
    # …

    # AS default, the authenticated client starts two websocket connections,
    # one for authenticated and one for public messages. If there is no need
    # for a public connection, it can be disabled using the ``no_public``
    # parameter.
    client_auth = Client(key="api-key", secret="secret-key", no_public=True)
    await client_auth.start()
    await client_auth.subscribe(params={"channel": "balances"})

    while not client.exception_occur and not client_auth.exception_occur:
        await asyncio.sleep(6)


if __name__ == "__main__":
    try:
        asyncio.run(main())
    except KeyboardInterrupt:
        pass
        # The websocket client will send {'event': 'asyncio.CancelledError'}
        # via on_message so you can handle the behavior/next actions
        # individually within your strategy.

Futures Clients

The Kraken Spot API can be accessed by executing requests to the endpoints directly using the request method provided by any client. This is demonstrated below.

See https://docs.kraken.com/api/docs/guides/global-intro for information about the available endpoints and their usage.

FuturesClient

The simple Futures client provides access to all un-and authenticated endpoints.

from kraken.futures import FuturesClient

client = FuturesClient(key="", secret="")
print(client.request("GET", "/derivatives/api/v3/accounts"))

FuturesAsyncClient

The async Futures client allows for asynchronous access to Kraken's Futures endpoints. Below are two examples demonstrating its usage.

Using FuturesAsyncClient without a context manager; In this example, the client is manually closed after the request is made.

import asyncio
from kraken.futures import FuturesAsyncClient

async def main():
    client = FuturesAsyncClient(key="", secret="")
    try:
        response = await client.request("GET", "/derivatives/api/v3/accounts")
        print(response)
    finally:
        await client.async_close()

asyncio.run(main())

Using FuturesAsyncClient as context manager; This example demonstrates the use of the context manager, which ensures the client is automatically closed after the request is completed.

import asyncio
from kraken.futures import FuturesAsyncClient

async def main():
    async with FuturesAsyncClient(key="", secret="") as client:
        response = await client.request("GET", "/derivatives/api/v3/accounts")
        print(response)

asyncio.run(main())

FuturesWSClient (Websocket API)

Not only REST, also the websocket API for Kraken Futures is available. Examples are shown below and demonstrated in examples/futures_ws_examples.py.

• https://docs.futures.kraken.com/#websocket-api

Note: Authenticated Futures websocket clients can also un-/subscribe from/to public feeds.

import asyncio
from kraken.futures import FuturesWSClient

class Client(FuturesWSClient):

    async def on_message(self, event):
        print(event)

async def main():
    # Public/unauthenticated websocket connection
    client = Client()
    await client.start()

    products = ["PI_XBTUSD", "PF_ETHUSD"]

    # subscribe to a public websocket feed
    await client.subscribe(feed="ticker", products=products)
    # await client.subscribe(feed="book", products=products)
    # …

    # unsubscribe from a public websocket feed
    # await client.unsubscribe(feed="ticker", products=products)

    # Private/authenticated websocket connection (+public)
    client_auth = Client(key="key-key", secret="secret-key")
    await client_auth.start()

    # print(client_auth.get_available_private_subscription_feeds())

    # subscribe to a private/authenticated websocket feed
    await client_auth.subscribe(feed="fills")
    await client_auth.subscribe(feed="open_positions")
    await client_auth.subscribe(feed="open_orders")
    # …

    # unsubscribe from a private/authenticated websocket feed
    await client_auth.unsubscribe(feed="fills")

    while not client.exception_occur and not client_auth.exception_occur:
        await asyncio.sleep(6)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    try:
        asyncio.run(main())
    except KeyboardInterrupt:
        # do some exception handling …
        pass

---

🆕 Contributions

… are welcome - but:

• First check if there is an existing issue or PR that addresses your problem/solution. If not - create one first - before creating a PR.
• Typo fixes, project configuration, CI, documentation or style/formatting PRs will be rejected. Please create an issue for that.
• PRs must provide a reasonable, easy to understand and maintain solution for an existing problem. You may want to propose a solution when creating the issue to discuss the approach before creating a PR.
• Please have a look at CONTRIBUTION.md.

---

🚨 Troubleshooting

• Check if you downloaded and installed the latest version of the python-kraken-sdk.
• Check the permissions of your API keys and the required permissions on the respective endpoints.
• If you get some Cloudflare or rate limit errors, please check your Kraken Tier level and maybe apply for a higher rank if required.
• Use different API keys for different algorithms, because the nonce calculation is based on timestamps and a sent nonce must always be the highest nonce ever sent of that API key. Having multiple algorithms using the same keys will result in invalid nonce errors.

---

📝 Notes

The versioning scheme follows the pattern v... Here's what each part signifies:

• Major: This denotes significant changes that may introduce new features or modify existing ones. It's possible for these changes to be breaking, meaning backward compatibility is not guaranteed. To avoid unexpected behavior, it's advisable to specify at least the major version when pinning dependencies.
• Minor: This level indicates additions of new features or extensions to existing ones. Typically, these changes do not break existing implementations.
• Patch: Here, you'll find bug fixes, documentation updates, and changes related to continuous integration (CI). These updates are intended to enhance stability and reliability without altering existing functionality.

Coding standards are not always followed to make arguments and function names as similar as possible to those of the Kraken API documentations.

Considerations

The tool aims to be fast, easy to use and maintain. In the past, lots of clients were implemented, that provided functions for almost all available endpoints of the Kraken API. The effort to maintain this collection grew to a level where it was not possible to check various changelogs to apply new updates on a regular basis. Instead, it was decided to concentrate on the request functions of the SpotClient, SpotAsyncClient, FuturesClient and the FuturesAsyncClient (as well as their websocket client implementations). All those clients named "User", "Trade", "Market", "Funding" and so on will no longer be extended, but maintained to a certain degree.

🔭 References

• https://python-kraken-sdk.readthedocs.io/en/stable
• https://docs.kraken.com/api/
• https://docs.kraken.com/api/docs/guides/global-intro
• https://docs.kraken.com/rest
• https://docs.kraken.com/websockets-v2
• https://docs.futures.kraken.com
• https://support.kraken.com/hc/en-us/sections/360012894412-Futures-API

---