getting-started

Your first DEX Grid Bot (Standard ±10% on ETH/USDC, Base)

Buy low + sell high repeatedly while ETH ranges

20 min setup + 30 days observation · beginner

What you'll have when finished

  • Have one armed grid bot with 5 levels around current ETH price
  • Understand the N-1 pairs = 2(N-1) signatures math
  • Know how to monitor the Pool Capacity bar and Refill before draining

Before you start

  • Grids only profit in RANGE-BOUND markets. If ETH strongly trends up or down, the grid loses
  • A 5-level grid means 8 EIP-712 popups back-to-back — be ready for the cadence
  • If price breaks above your high or below your low, the grid stalls — Cancel and rebuild if break is persistent

Walkthrough

  1. Have 100 USDC + tiny ETH on Base

    You need 100 USDC on Base for the buy ladder AND ~$0.50 of native ETH for the approval gas. If USDC on CoW + Base is already approved from other DEX features, no new approval needed.

    Success criteria: MetaMask shows ≥ 100 USDC + some native ETH on Base

  2. Open DEX Grid Bot + connect wallet

    DEX Trade → DEX Grid Bot. Connect Wallet. Green Connected banner appears.

    Success criteria: Green Connected banner visible

  3. Pick the Standard quick-start template

    Templates row top of form: Tight / Standard / Wide / Long-term. Click Standard — pre-fills ±10% range around current ETH price, 5 grid levels, 30-day expiry. The low/high price fields auto-populate.

    Success criteria: Standard template is highlighted AND low/high prices show 10% below/above current ETH price

  4. Pick CoW + Base + USDC → WETH + total 100

    Protocol = CoW. Network = Base (chain-switch prompt may appear, approve it). Spend = USDC. Buy = WETH. Total amount = 100.

    Success criteria: All pickers match the values above with no chain warning

  5. Verify grid count = 5 (math = 8 signatures)

    The grid count slider should show 5 (from the Standard template). Below it the page reads "5 levels → 4 pairs → 8 signatures". Confirm you understand: 5 levels means 4 buy levels below current + 4 sell levels above (or some mix depending on midpoint), each level pair signed separately.

    Success criteria: Slider shows 5 and the explanation text matches

  6. Click Arm + sign approval + 8 cycles

    Click Arm Grid Bot. First-time USDC on CoW + Base: ERC-20 approval (gas ~$0.05). Then 8 EIP-712 signatures back-to-back labeled "Sign 1 of 8" through "Sign 8 of 8". Click Sign 8 times in MetaMask. Each is free (no gas).

    Success criteria: All 8 signatures complete AND row appears in bots list with status Armed (emerald, pulsing)

  7. Watch the grid run + Refill before pool drains

    As ETH price oscillates, levels fire one at a time. Each buy fill creates a new sell order at the next level up; each sell fill creates a new buy at the next level down. The Pool Capacity bar shows remaining pre-signed orders. When it turns amber (≤30%) or red (≤10%), click Refill to sign +1 cycle per level (= 10 more signatures for a 5-level grid).

    Success criteria: You can articulate when each fill happens and what Refill does

What's next

You have one autonomous grid live for 30 days. The bot completes when expiry hits OR you Cancel. Track progress in the row: total fills, cumulative profit, pool remaining. If ETH stays between ±10% the entire month, you should see 10-20 round-trip fills net positive after the 0.1% fee cushion. If ETH breaks above or below the range, profitability stalls — Cancel and rebuild at the new range center.