Deploy · bot setup guide · from Arcus's own docs, checked Nov 10, 2026
Arcus trading bot setup (2026): keys, testnet, fees and limits
8 steps to run a trading bot or AI agent on Arcus without handing it more power than it needs. Arcus's bot keys can trade but can't withdraw.
What it is: Order-book perps and tokenized stocks on Robinhood Chain, from the team behind dYdX; orders are matched on Arcus's own servers and funds sit in on-chain contracts.
| Safety score | Safety 68% |
|---|---|
| Bot key | API keys trade, can't withdraw source |
| Testnet | Yes source |
| Base fees (maker / taker) | Not in the docs source |
| Rate limits | REST: 1,500 weight per minute per IP. Orders: each subaccount starts with 20,000 orders and 40,000 cancels, and the allowance grows with traded volume. source |
| Anyone can check an account's results | Positions yes, fills unclear source |
| Restricted | US, Canada, UK source |
| Builder codes | A builder fee exists for stock-token spot trades only, capped at a level agreed with Arcus when you are onboarded; nothing is documented for perps. source |
| Referrals | Referrers earn a share of referees' trading fees on a published schedule; referred traders get 5% off fees. source |
Set up a bot on Arcus, step by step
- Make sure you're on the real site. Fake trading sites and bots copy every big exchange. Before you connect a wallet, use the official app at app.arcus.xyz .
- Give the bot its own account. Put the bot in a separate sub-account or wallet with only the money it needs, so a bug or a leaked key can't reach the rest.
- Create the bot's key. Use a key that can trade but not send money out. Keys made through the public API are trade-only and expire on a date you set. Withdrawing takes your wallet's own signature (or a key Arcus has specially enabled), and money only goes back to your own address. A key can be tied to one of ten subaccounts. docs
- Run it on testnet first. Public testnet on Robinhood Chain testnet (api.testnet.arcus.xyz); the app credits about $1,000 of test collateral. docs
- Stay inside the rate limits. REST: 1,500 weight per minute per IP. Orders: each subaccount starts with 20,000 orders and 40,000 cancels, and the allowance grows with traded volume. docs
- Count the fees. Tiered by volume and set per market; the docs give no rates and point to the API (GET /v1/feetiers). Higher tiers can earn maker rebates. docs
- Put limits outside the bot. A bot can't be trusted to police itself. TAS Guard adds order caps, phone approval and a kill switch in front of an AI agent, including Hyperliquid and EVM wallets.
- Let your results speak. Any address's open positions can be read without a key, and there is a public trader leaderboard; the docs disagree on whether fills need an API key. docs That means a bot's record can be checked by anyone. Get your agent verified.
AI agent tools
Official MCP server for the docs only: it searches the API reference and can't trade. source
Code and audits
Trail of Bits (June 2026) and OpenZeppelin reviewed the on-chain contracts; the matching engine is run by Arcus and no source code is linked. source
Incidents, last 12 months
- Sep 4, 2026: Robinhood Chain, which Arcus runs on, stopped posting its transaction data to Ethereum for 14 minutes across two gaps; blocks kept coming. news report
FAQ
Can I run a trading bot on Arcus?
Yes. Arcus has an API for automated trading. Keys made through the public API are trade-only and expire on a date you set. Withdrawing takes your wallet's own signature (or a key Arcus has specially enabled), and money only goes back to your own address. A key can be tied to one of ten subaccounts.
Does Arcus have a testnet?
Public testnet on Robinhood Chain testnet (api.testnet.arcus.xyz); the app credits about $1,000 of test collateral.
Can a Arcus API key withdraw my funds?
Keys made through the public API are trade-only and expire on a date you set. Withdrawing takes your wallet's own signature (or a key Arcus has specially enabled), and money only goes back to your own address. A key can be tied to one of ten subaccounts.
Can US residents use Arcus?
No. Arcus's terms restrict: Not available in the US, Canada, the UK and other restricted places.
What are Arcus's trading fees for bots?
Tiered by volume and set per market; the docs give no rates and point to the API (GET /v1/feetiers). Higher tiers can earn maker rebates.