okx-cex-trade

Use this skill when the user asks to 'buy BTC', 'sell ETH', 'place a limit order', 'cancel my order', 'amend my order', 'long BTC perp', 'short ETH swap', 'o...

OKX CEX Trading CLI

Spot, perpetual swap, delivery futures, options, and event contract order management on OKX exchange. Place, cancel, amend, and monitor orders; query option chains and Greeks; trade binary outcome event contracts (Yes/No, Up/Down); set take-profit/stop-loss and trailing stops; manage leverage and positions. Requires API credentials.

CLI vs MCP tool names — Subcommands use spaces (okx swap algo place, okx bot grid create), not hyphens. Do NOT convert an MCP tool identifier (swap_place_algo_order) into a hyphen-joined CLI command (okx swap place-algo) — that will be rejected with "Unknown command". Per-module mapping tables live in references/<module>-commands.md.

Preflight

Before running any command, follow ../_shared/preflight.md. Use metadata.version from this file's frontmatter as the reference for Step 2.

Prerequisites

1. Install okx CLI:

   npm install -g @okx_ai/okx-trade-cli
   

2. Configure credentials:

   okx config init   # select site -> follow browser OAuth flow
   

3. Test with demo mode (simulated trading, no real funds):

   okx --demo spot orders
   

Security: NEVER accept credentials in chat. Guide users to okx config init for setup.

Credential & Profile Check

Run this check before any authenticated command. The auth method is detected during preflight Step 2 and remembered for the session.

Step A — Verify credentials

Run both commands — the apiKey field from okx auth status --json is the auth-binary's internal state and is always false regardless of whether ~/.okx/config.toml has an API-key profile. okx config show --json is the only authoritative source for API-key presence.

okx config show --json      # reveals API-key profiles (TOML config)
okx auth status --json      # reveals OAuth session state (auth-binary state)

Apply in this order — first match wins:

• config show --json has any profile with a non-empty api_key field → API Key mode. Proceed to Step B.
• No API-key profile AND auth status --json returns "status":"logged_in" → OAuth mode. Proceed to Step B.
• No API-key profile AND "status":"pending" — login is in progress, wait for it to complete.
• No API-key profile AND "status":"not_logged_in" — stop all operations, load okx-cex-auth skill and follow login steps, wait for completion.

Step B — Confirm trading mode

Resolution rules:

1. Current message intent is clear (e.g. "real" / "实盘" / "live" → live; "test" / "模拟" / "demo" → demo) → use it and inform the user
2. Current message has no explicit declaration → check conversation context for a previous choice:
   • Found → reuse it, inform user
   • Not found → ask: "Live (实盘) or Demo (模拟盘)?" — wait for answer before proceeding

How to apply the mode depends on auth method (detected in Step A):

Auth method	Live (实盘)	Demo (模拟盘)
API Key	--profile <live-profile>	--profile <demo-profile>
OAuth	(no flag needed, live is default)	--demo

• API Key users: run okx config show --json to discover available profile names and their demo settings. Use --profile <name> to select the correct one.
• OAuth users: omit flags for live trading; add --demo for simulated trading. Do not use --profile to switch modes.

Handling Authentication Errors

Authentication error (error contains "401", "Session expired", or "Run okx auth login first"):

1. Stop immediately — do not retry the same command
2. Inform the user: "Authentication failed. Your session may have expired."
3. Load okx-cex-auth skill and follow the re-authentication steps
4. After successful re-authentication, retry the original command

Demo vs Live Mode

Mode	Funds	API Key param	OAuth param
实盘 (live)	Real money — irreversible	--profile <live-profile>	(default, no flag)
模拟盘 (demo)	Simulated — no real funds	--profile <demo-profile>	--demo

Rules:

1. Trading mode is required on every authenticated command — determined in "Credential & Profile Check" Step B
2. Every response after a command must append: [mode: live] or [mode: demo]

Skill Routing

• For market data (prices, charts, depth, funding rates) → use okx-cex-market
• For account balance, P&L, positions, fees, transfers → use okx-cex-portfolio
• For regular spot/swap/futures/options/algo orders → use okx-cex-trade (this skill)
• For browsing/discovering event contracts (what's available, how many, list active) → use okx-cex-trade with okx event browse / okx event series
• For trading event contracts (place/cancel/amend prediction market orders) → use okx-cex-trade with okx event place / okx event cancel / okx event amend
• For grid and DCA trading bots → use okx-cex-bot

Important: When user asks about "contracts" in the context of event contracts or prediction markets, route to this skill — NOT to okx-cex-portfolio. Portfolio does not handle event contracts — it covers account balance, positions, P&L, and transfers only.

Sz Handling for Derivatives

⚠ CRITICAL: Always verify contract face value before placing orders

Before placing any SWAP/FUTURES/OPTION order, call market_get_instruments to get ctVal (contract face value). Do NOT assume contract sizes — they vary by instrument (e.g. ETH-USDT-SWAP = 0.1 ETH/contract, BTC-USDT-SWAP = 0.01 BTC/contract).

Use ctVal to:

• Calculate the correct number of contracts from user's intended position size
• Verify margin requirements before submitting the order
• Show the user the actual position value: sz × ctVal × price

SWAP and FUTURES orders

Three tgtCcy modes for USDT-denominated sizing:

--tgtCcy	sz meaning	Conversion formula	Example: "500U" at 10x lever
base_ccy (default)	contract count	no conversion	500 contracts
quote_ccy	USDT notional value	floor(sz / (ctVal * lastPx))	500 USDT notional
margin	USDT margin cost	floor(sz * lever / (ctVal * lastPx))	500 USDT margin = 5000 USDT notional

When user specifies a USDT amount (e.g. "200U", "500 USDT", "$1000"): → AMBIGUOUS — this could mean notional value OR margin cost. You MUST ask the user to clarify before proceeding:

• notional value: sz = position value in USDT (e.g. 500 USDT buys 500 USDT worth of contracts directly)
• margin cost: actual position = sz × leverage (e.g. 500 USDT margin at 10× = 5000 USDT notional position) Wait for the user's answer before continuing.
• If notional value → use --tgtCcy quote_ccy
• If margin cost → use --tgtCcy margin

When user specifies contracts (e.g. "2 张", "5 contracts"): → First verify ctVal via market_get_instruments, then use --sz with the contract count. Confirm with user: "X contracts = X × ctVal underlying, total value ≈ $Y".

When user gives a plain number with no unit (for swap/futures): → AMBIGUOUS — You MUST ask the user to clarify before proceeding:

• contract count: X contracts (each worth ctVal of underlying)
• USDT notional value: position value in USDT
• USDT margin cost: margin amount (actual position = X × leverage) Wait for the user's answer before continuing.

⚠ Inverse contracts (*-USD-SWAP, *-USD-YYMMDD): tgtCcy=quote_ccy and tgtCcy=margin also work (note: quote_ccy = USD, not USDT, for inverse instruments). Always warn: "This is an inverse contract. Margin and P&L are settled in BTC, not USDT."

Option orders

When the user specifies a USDT amount for options, use --tgtCcy quote_ccy (notional) or --tgtCcy margin (margin cost) and pass the amount as --sz. The system automatically converts to contracts. Note: option contracts typically have large face values (e.g. ctVal=1 BTC ≈ $84,000), so the minimum USDT amount for 1 contract is high. For option sellers (cross/isolated tdMode), margin mode accounts for leverage automatically.

Quickstart

# Market buy 0.01 BTC (spot)
okx spot place --instId BTC-USDT --side buy --ordType market --sz 0.01

# Buy $10 worth of SOL (spot, USDT amount)
okx spot place --instId SOL-USDT --side buy --ordType market --sz 10 --tgtCcy quote_ccy

# Limit sell 0.01 BTC at $100,000 (spot)
okx spot place --instId BTC-USDT --side sell --ordType limit --sz 0.01 --px 100000

# Long 1 contract BTC perp (cross margin)
okx swap place --instId BTC-USDT-SWAP --side buy --ordType market --sz 1 \
  --tdMode cross --posSide long

# Long 1000 USDT notional value of BTC perp (auto-convert to contracts)
okx swap place --instId BTC-USDT-SWAP --side buy --ordType market --sz 1000 \
  --tgtCcy quote_ccy --tdMode cross --posSide long

# Long with 500 USDT margin at current leverage (e.g. 10x → 5000 USDT notional)
okx swap place --instId BTC-USDT-SWAP --side buy --ordType market --sz 500 \
  --tgtCcy margin --tdMode cross --posSide long

# Long 1 contract with attached TP/SL (one step)
okx swap place --instId BTC-USDT-SWAP --side buy --ordType market --sz 1 \
  --tdMode cross --posSide long \
  --tpTriggerPx 105000 --tpOrdPx=-1 --slTriggerPx 88000 --slOrdPx=-1

# Close BTC perp long position entirely at market
okx swap close --instId BTC-USDT-SWAP --mgnMode cross --posSide long

# Set 10x leverage on BTC perp (cross)
okx swap leverage --instId BTC-USDT-SWAP --lever 10 --mgnMode cross

# Set TP/SL on a spot BTC position
okx spot algo place --instId BTC-USDT --side sell --ordType oco --sz 0.01 \
  --tpTriggerPx 105000 --tpOrdPx=-1 \
  --slTriggerPx 88000 --slOrdPx=-1

# Place trailing stop on BTC perp long (callback 2%)
okx swap algo trail --instId BTC-USDT-SWAP --side sell --sz 1 \
  --tdMode cross --posSide long --callbackRatio 0.02

# View open spot orders
okx spot orders

# View open swap positions
okx swap positions

# Cancel a spot order
okx spot cancel --instId BTC-USDT --ordId <ordId>

# --- Event Contract ---
# List event series
okx event series

# Browse live markets in a series
okx event markets BTC-ABOVE-DAILY --state live

# Place event contract order
okx event place --instId BTC-ABOVE-DAILY-260224-1600-70000 --side buy --outcome YES --sz 10

Command Index

Spot Orders (12 commands)

#	Command	Type	Description
1	okx spot place	WRITE	Place spot order (market/limit/post_only/fok/ioc)
2	okx spot cancel	WRITE	Cancel spot order
3	okx spot amend	WRITE	Amend spot order price or size
4	okx spot algo place	WRITE	Place spot TP/SL algo order
5	okx spot algo amend	WRITE	Amend spot TP/SL levels
6	okx spot algo cancel	WRITE	Cancel spot algo order
7	okx spot algo trail	WRITE	Place spot trailing stop order
8	okx spot orders	READ	List open or historical spot orders
9	okx spot get	READ	Single spot order details
10	okx spot fills	READ	Spot trade fill history
11	okx spot algo orders	READ	List spot TP/SL algo orders
12	okx spot leverage	WRITE	Set leverage for spot margin (borrowing). Pair-level (--instId) or currency-level cross (--ccy, required for borrow-enabled / multi-ccy / portfolio margin)

For full command syntax, parameter tables, and edge cases, read {baseDir}/references/spot-commands.md.

Swap / Perpetual Orders (15 commands)

#	Command	Type	Description
13	okx swap place	WRITE	Place perpetual swap order
14	okx swap cancel	WRITE	Cancel swap order
15	okx swap amend	WRITE	Amend swap order price or size
16	okx swap close	WRITE	Close entire position at market
17	okx swap leverage	WRITE	Set leverage for an instrument
18	okx swap algo place	WRITE	Place swap TP/SL algo order
19	okx swap algo trail	WRITE	Place swap trailing stop order
20	okx swap algo amend	WRITE	Amend swap algo order
21	okx swap algo cancel	WRITE	Cancel swap algo order
22	okx swap positions	READ	Open perpetual swap positions
23	okx swap orders	READ	List open or historical swap orders
24	okx swap get	READ	Single swap order details
25	okx swap fills	READ	Swap trade fill history
26	okx swap get-leverage	READ	Current leverage settings
27	okx swap algo orders	READ	List swap algo orders

For full command syntax, parameter tables, and edge cases, read {baseDir}/references/swap-commands.md.

Futures / Delivery Orders (15 commands)

#	Command	Type	Description
28	okx futures place	WRITE	Place delivery futures order
29	okx futures cancel	WRITE	Cancel delivery futures order
30	okx futures amend	WRITE	Amend delivery futures order price or size
31	okx futures close	WRITE	Close entire futures position at market
32	okx futures leverage	WRITE	Set leverage for a futures instrument
33	okx futures algo place	WRITE	Place futures TP/SL algo order
34	okx futures algo trail	WRITE	Place futures trailing stop order
35	okx futures algo amend	WRITE	Amend futures algo order
36	okx futures algo cancel	WRITE	Cancel futures algo order
37	okx futures orders	READ	List delivery futures orders
38	okx futures positions	READ	Open delivery futures positions
39	okx futures fills	READ	Delivery futures fill history
40	okx futures get	READ	Single delivery futures order details
41	okx futures get-leverage	READ	Current futures leverage settings
42	okx futures algo orders	READ	List futures algo orders

For full command syntax, parameter tables, and edge cases, read {baseDir}/references/futures-commands.md.

Options Orders (10 commands)

#	Command	Type	Description
43	okx option instruments	READ	Option chain: list available contracts for an underlying
44	okx option greeks	READ	Implied volatility + Greeks (delta/gamma/theta/vega) by underlying
45	okx option place	WRITE	Place option order (call or put, buyer or seller)
46	okx option cancel	WRITE	Cancel unfilled option order
47	okx option amend	WRITE	Amend option order price or size
48	okx option batch-cancel	WRITE	Batch cancel up to 20 option orders
49	okx option orders	READ	List option orders (live / history / archive)
50	okx option get	READ	Single option order details
51	okx option positions	READ	Open option positions with live Greeks
52	okx option fills	READ	Option trade fill history

For full command syntax, USDT-to-contracts conversion formula, tdMode rules, and edge cases, read {baseDir}/references/options-commands.md.

Event Contract Orders (9 commands)

#	Command	Type	Description
53	okx event browse	READ	Browse active event contracts grouped by type (series + live markets in one call)
54	okx event series	READ	List event series (e.g. BTC-ABOVE-DAILY, BTC-UPDOWN-15MIN)
55	okx event events <seriesId>	READ	List events in a series
56	okx event markets <seriesId>	READ	List markets; expired includes Outcome and Settlement value
57	okx event place ...	WRITE	Place event order (outcome required)
58	okx event amend <instId> <ordId>	WRITE	Amend event order (price/size)
59	okx event cancel <instId> <ordId>	WRITE	Cancel event order
60	okx event orders	READ	Pending or historical orders
61	okx event fills	READ	Fill history

For full command syntax, parameter tables, and edge cases, read {baseDir}/references/event-commands.md.

Operation Flow

Step 0 — Credential & Profile Check

Before any authenticated command: see Credential & Profile Check. Determine auth method and trading mode before executing.

After every command result: append [mode: live] or [mode: demo].

Step 1 — Identify instrument type and action

Spot (instId format: BTC-USDT):

• Place/cancel/amend order → okx spot place/cancel/amend
• TP/SL conditional → okx spot algo place/amend/cancel
• Trailing stop → okx spot algo trail
• Query → okx spot orders/get/fills/algo orders

Swap/Perpetual (instId format: BTC-USDT-SWAP):

• Place/cancel/amend order → okx swap place/cancel/amend
• Close position → okx swap close
• Leverage → okx swap leverage / okx swap get-leverage
• TP/SL conditional → okx swap algo place/amend/cancel
• Trailing stop → okx swap algo trail
• Query → okx swap positions/orders/get/fills/get-leverage/algo orders

Futures/Delivery (instId format: BTC-USDT-<YYMMDD>):

• Place/cancel/amend order → okx futures place/cancel/amend
• Close position → okx futures close
• Leverage → okx futures leverage / okx futures get-leverage
• TP/SL conditional → okx futures algo place/amend/cancel
• Trailing stop → okx futures algo trail
• Query → okx futures orders/positions/fills/get/get-leverage/algo orders

Options (instId format: BTC-USD-250328-95000-C or ...-P):

• Step 1 (required): find valid instId → okx option instruments --uly BTC-USD
• Step 2 (recommended): check IV and Greeks → okx option greeks --uly BTC-USD
• Place/cancel/amend → okx option place/cancel/amend
• Batch cancel → okx option batch-cancel --orders '[...]'
• Query → okx option orders/get/positions/fills
• tdMode: cash for buyers; cross or isolated for sellers

Event Contracts:

Instrument ID (instId, API field) format: {UNDERLYING}-{TYPE}-{YYMMDD}-{HHMM}-{STRIKE} for "Price Above Target" / "One Touch" contracts (e.g. BTC-ABOVE-DAILY-260224-1600-70000), or {UNDERLYING}-{TYPE}-{YYMMDD}-{START}-{END} for "Price Direction (Up/Down)" contracts (e.g. BTC-UPDOWN-15MIN-260224-1600-1615). Always obtain the instrument ID from okx event markets <seriesId> — never guess or use placeholders.

Series ID (seriesId, API field): human-readable (e.g. BTC-ABOVE-DAILY, BTC-UPDOWN-15MIN) or internal random string (e.g. FMQRZ). Both are valid for subsequent commands. Obtain from okx event series.

Event contract trading flow:

1. Discover → okx event browse (preferred, returns series + live markets in one call) or okx event series — present results grouped by type; highlight named series; always show the Series ID
2. Browse live markets → okx event markets <seriesId> --state live — obtains the instrument ID for each tradeable contract; if a live Price is shown, it is the event contract price (0.01–0.99), not the underlying asset price — reflects the market-implied probability when actively trading
3. Check event details → okx event events <seriesId>
4. Confirm + Place → okx event place <instId> <side> <outcome> <sz> — only after user explicitly confirms
5. Track → okx event orders --status open / okx account positions --instType EVENTS
6. Exit or settle → sell via okx event place <instId> sell <outcome> <sz>, or wait for --state expired

Edge cases:

• Settled results: okx event markets <seriesId> --state expired — no separate ended tool

Event Contract sz Rules:

• Market order (ordType=market): --sz is quote currency amount.
• Limit order (ordType=limit / post_only): --sz is number of contracts (integer). Each contract settles at 1 unit of quote currency; cost per contract = px (event contract price, 0.01–0.99). E.g. 10 contracts at px=0.5 costs 5.
• px semantics: px is the event contract price (0.01–0.99), NOT the underlying asset price. When actively trading, it reflects the market-implied probability. Example: px=0.6 means the market is pricing the event at roughly 60%.
• Outcome display: expired/result views show translated values. For price_up_down, treat YES/NO as UP/DOWN.

For event contract workflows and step-by-step examples, read {baseDir}/references/event-workflows.md.

For cross-skill workflows and step-by-step examples, read {baseDir}/references/workflows.md.

Step 2 — Confirm profile, then confirm write parameters

Read commands (orders, positions, fills, get, get-leverage, algo orders): run immediately.

• --history flag: defaults to active/open; use --history only if user explicitly asks for history
• --ordType for algo: conditional = single TP or SL; oco = both TP and SL together
• --tdMode for swap/futures: cross or isolated; spot always uses cash (set automatically)
• --posSide for hedge mode: long or short; omit in net mode

Write commands (place, cancel, amend, close, leverage, algo): confirm the key order details once before executing:

• Spot place: confirm --instId, --side, --ordType, --sz (and --tgtCcy quote_ccy if quote-currency amount)
• Swap/Futures place: confirm --instId, --side, --sz, --tdMode, and explicitly confirm order mode when user specifies a USDT amount: --tgtCcy quote_ccy (notional value, sz = position value) or --tgtCcy margin (margin cost, actual position = sz * leverage). Always state which mode is being used.
• Option place: confirm --instId, --side, --sz, --tdMode (and --tgtCcy quote_ccy or --tgtCcy margin if USDT amount — system auto-converts); do NOT attach TP/SL
• Event Contract place: confirm --instId, --side, --outcome, --sz, --ordType; for market orders sz is quote currency amount, for limit orders sz is number of contracts + --px required
• Swap/Futures close: confirm --instId, --mgnMode, --posSide
• Leverage: confirm new leverage and impact on existing positions. Pre-checks to avoid common 400s: (a) --lever must be a positive number within the instrument's max (see okx market instruments → lever); (b) for --mgnMode isolated in hedge pos mode, --posSide is required — each side (long, short) must be set separately, setting one does NOT auto-apply to the other; (c) portfolio-margin accounts cannot adjust cross leverage for SWAP/FUTURES — OKX will reject; if unsure, run okx account config and check acctLv first. If set-leverage fails (error mentions "cancel orders or stop bots"): troubleshoot in priority order — (1) query pending algo orders first (swap/futures algo-orders --status pending), as this is the most common blocker; (2) only if no algo orders, check active bots (bot grid-orders). Do NOT automatically cancel orders or stop bots — present findings and let the user decide
• Algo place (TP/SL): confirm trigger prices; use --tpOrdPx=-1 for market execution
• Algo trail: confirm --callbackRatio (e.g., 0.02 = 2%) or --callbackSpread

For full parameter details per command, read the relevant reference file.

Error-suggested remediation safeguard

When an OKX API error message suggests a fix that involves write operations (cancel orders, close positions, stop bots/strategies, transfer funds, etc.), you MUST NOT automatically execute those actions. Instead:

1. Report the error and its suggestion to the user verbatim
2. Diagnose — run read-only queries to identify what is blocking (e.g., algo-orders --status pending, positions, bot grid-orders --status active)
3. Present findings — show the user what was found and which specific items would need to be cancelled/closed/stopped
4. Wait for explicit confirmation before executing any remediation

This applies to all error codes whose messages suggest destructive actions, including but not limited to:

• Set-leverage blocked by pending algo orders or active bots
• Account setting changes requiring order/position/strategy cleanup (e.g., error codes 59000, 59002, 59007)
• Margin mode switches requiring position closure
• Any error containing phrases like "cancel", "close", "stop", "transfer … before"

Rationale: Error messages list all possible blockers generically — the actual blocker is often just one item (e.g., a single TP/SL order). Blindly following the error text can cause unnecessary position closures or bot shutdowns that the user did not intend.

Step 3 — Verify after writes

• After spot place: run okx spot orders to confirm order is live or okx spot fills if market order
• After swap place: run okx swap orders or okx swap positions to confirm
• After swap close: run okx swap positions to confirm position size is 0
• After futures place: run okx futures orders or okx futures positions to confirm
• After futures close: run okx futures positions to confirm position size is 0
• After spot algo place/trail: run okx spot algo orders to confirm algo is active
• After swap algo place/trail: run okx swap algo orders to confirm algo is active
• After futures algo place/trail: run okx futures algo orders to confirm algo is active
• After cancel: run okx spot orders / okx swap orders / okx futures orders / okx event orders to confirm order is gone
• After event place: run okx event orders --status open to confirm order is pending
• After event cancel: run okx event orders to confirm order is gone

Global Notes

• All write commands require valid credentials (OAuth session or API key in ~/.okx/config.toml)
• Auth method and trading mode are determined in "Credential & Profile Check"; see that section for parameter rules
• --json returns the raw OKX API v5 response by default. Add --env to wrap the output as {"env": "<live|demo>", "profile": "<name>", "data": <response>} — useful when you need to know the active environment and credential profile
• Rate limit: 60 order operations per 2 seconds per UID
• Batch operations (batch cancel, batch amend) are available via MCP tools directly if needed
• Position mode (net vs long_short_mode) affects whether --posSide is required
• Network errors: If commands fail with a connection error, prompt user to check VPN: curl -I https://www.okx.com
• Capability discovery: Run okx list-tools --json to get a machine-readable JSON listing of all CLI commands, tool names, and parameters — useful for programmatic enumeration without parsing --help text

For MCP tool reference, output conventions, and order amount safety rules, read {baseDir}/references/templates.md.