Question 1

How do I connect an exchange or broker?

Accepted Answer

Create a scoped API key at Binance, Bybit, or your MetaTrader 5 provider and add it in the panel. Enable trading permission only — never withdrawal. The platform runs a connection test and confirms withdrawal is disabled before anything goes live.

Question 2

Does StrategyBox hold my funds?

Accepted Answer

No. StrategyBox is non-custodial. Your funds stay in your own broker/exchange account at all times. We only place and manage orders on your connected account using the API keys you provide.

Question 3

Are my API keys safe?

Accepted Answer

API keys must be withdrawal-disabled, and we verify that before a live deployment. Credentials are encrypted at rest using envelope encryption (a per-account data key wrapped by a key held outside the database) and are never returned in plaintext or written to logs.

Question 4

What is the difference between paper and live trading?

Accepted Answer

Paper trading runs a strategy against live market data without placing real orders — ideal for evaluating a bot risk-free. Live trading places real orders on your connected account. You can start on paper and switch to live when you're ready.

Question 5

How does the performance fee and high-water mark work?

Accepted Answer

On performance-fee plans, you pay a percentage of net new profit only. A high-water mark means no fee is charged on the recovery of prior losses — a fee applies only when your account exceeds its previous peak on which a fee was already charged.

Question 6

What is balance-metered (balance-days) pricing?

Accepted Answer

Runtime is metered in balance-days based on your account size. Your deployment runs while you have credit; when it runs low you're notified, and if it's exhausted the deployment is safely paused.

Question 7

Which exchanges and platforms are supported?

Accepted Answer

MetaTrader 5 (via MetaApi) for forex, and Binance and Bybit for crypto. Each strategy lists the platforms it supports on its detail page.

Question 8

Do I need a VPS or to keep my computer on?

Accepted Answer

No. Strategies run in the cloud around the clock in their own containers. You can close your laptop and the bots keep running; you monitor them from the panel or on mobile.

Question 9

How do risk controls and the kill-switch work?

Accepted Answer

Each deployment has per-bot drawdown limits and margin alerts. A one-action kill-switch can halt a single deployment, all of your deployments, or trading platform-wide — with deliberate friction so it isn't triggered by accident.

Question 10

Can I cancel or stop anytime?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can stop or pause any deployment instantly, and cancel a subscription from the billing page. Stopping a deployment safely closes it down; your funds remain untouched on your exchange.

Question 11

Are returns guaranteed?

Accepted Answer

No. Nothing on StrategyBox guarantees profit. Trading carries a high risk of loss, including the total loss of the funds in your connected account. Only trade with capital you can afford to lose.

Frequently asked questions