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Connect an exchange

Each exchange account you add in Trade can serve one or more combos. Trade checks the account before saving it.

Add an account

  1. In Trade, open Accounts and choose Add account.

  2. Choose the exchange.

  3. Enter the account name, account mode, markets and API key. Most exchanges use an API key and secret, some also a passphrase; some connect through a wallet.

  4. Save. Trade checks the API key, account mode, position mode and trading permission, then shows the connection status. If the account saved but didn’t connect, choose Retry connection.

On Hyperliquid and Aster you can add only the main account of the main wallet itself. Subaccounts and vaults aren’t supported. A free (Standard) account on Lighter or Lighter on Robinhood Chain must move to Plus before you can add it; Trade asks before upgrading.

API permissions

Every exchange names and splits its permissions differently. In the API key section, the add-account window lists the permissions this exchange needs for the account mode and markets you chose, using the exact names from the exchange’s API management page, with a link to that page when it has a stable address:

  • Enable: what trading needs, each followed by what Trade uses it for.

  • Enable to transfer: used only when you transfer funds in Trade; otherwise leave it off. Where main-account and subaccount API keys need different permissions, the window says so.

  • Turn off: read-only switches that block orders while on, such as Backpack’s Read Only.

  • Don’t enable: withdrawals. ZML Trade does not need or use withdrawal permission.

Exchanges connected with a wallet have no permissions to set. Exchanges that report API key permissions refuse a read-only API key, or one whose trading permission is clearly off for a selected market. Backpack, GRVT, edgeX and Gate CrossEx don’t report permissions, so they aren’t checked when you save; check them on the exchange against the list in the window.

IP allowlist

For exchanges whose API keys support an IP allowlist, the add-account window lists your server’s egress IPs. Choose Copy all egress IPs and add them to the API key’s allowlist on the exchange. Hyperliquid, Lighter, Lighter on Robinhood Chain, Nado, Extended and Arcus have no IP allowlist, so the window doesn’t list egress IPs for them. Aster connected with a wallet has no IP restriction. If you enter an API wallet by hand and restricted it to certain IPs on Aster, add the egress IPs there too.

Account and position mode

The account mode you choose must match the account on the exchange. Trade doesn’t change it for you; on a mismatch, saving fails and tells you what to change.

Trade sets the position mode it needs when you save. If the exchange refuses because positions or orders are open, close them or wait, then save again.

Key storage

Keys are encrypted on your server and are never sent to ZML. After saving, only a masked key is shown; to change a key, enter a new one.