CCXT Library Setup Guide for Beginners

What Is CCXT?

CCXT (CryptoCurrency eXchange Trading Library) supports 100+ exchanges with a single unified API. Write your trading code once and connect to any exchange without rewriting your integration.

Install

pip install ccxt

Connect to Any Exchange

import ccxt

# Public data — no API key needed
exchange = ccxt.binance()
ticker = exchange.fetch_ticker("BTC/USDT")
print(ticker["last"])  # Current BTC price

# Private data — API key required
exchange = ccxt.binance({
    "apiKey": "YOUR_KEY",
    "secret": "YOUR_SECRET",
})
balance = exchange.fetch_balance()
print(balance["USDT"]["free"])

Place Orders

# Market buy
order = exchange.create_market_buy_order("BTC/USDT", 0.001)

# Limit sell at $100,000
order = exchange.create_limit_sell_order("BTC/USDT", 0.001, 100000)

Switch Exchanges Instantly

exchange = ccxt.bybit({"apiKey": "...", "secret": "..."})
exchange = ccxt.okx({"apiKey": "...", "secret": "..."})
exchange = ccxt.kucoin({"apiKey": "...", "secret": "..."})

Or Use CCXT MCP for Claude

claude mcp add ccxt -- npx @ccxt/mcp-server

Then just ask Claude: "Buy 0.001 BTC on Binance at market price."