getting-started

Your first DEX Smart Trade (Entry + TP + SL on Base)

Buy 25 USDC of WETH at -5%, TP +15%, SL -5%, all in one signed bundle

15 min setup · beginner

What you'll have when finished

  • Have one armed Smart Trade with all 3 legs pre-committed
  • Understand the pending_entry → entry_filled → completed lifecycle
  • Know how OCO cancellation works at fill

Before you start

  • ALL 3 legs are signed upfront — once committed, the bundle runs autonomously. You can cancel but cannot partially edit
  • If entry never fills within watch window, the entire bundle expires unfilled. Pick entry realistically
  • Slippage applies to both TP and SL fills — too tight on volatile pairs and the legs may not fill at trigger

Walkthrough

  1. Have 25 USDC + tiny ETH on Base

    You need ≥ 25 USDC on Base AND ~$0.50 of native ETH on Base for the approval gas. If you completed the DEX DCA or Limit Orders guides earlier and approved USDC on CoW + Base, no new approval needed here.

    Success criteria: MetaMask shows ≥ 25 USDC + some native ETH on Base

  2. Open DEX Smart Trade + connect wallet

    DEX Trade → DEX Smart Trade. Connect Wallet. Green Connected banner appears.

    Success criteria: Green Connected banner visible

  3. Pick CoW + Base + USDC → WETH + amount 25

    Protocol = CoW. Network = Base (chain-switch prompt may appear, approve in wallet). Spend = USDC. Amount = 25. Buy = WETH.

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

  4. Set entry price 5% below current

    Look up current ETH price. Multiply by 0.95. Example: ETH at $3,000 → entry = 2850. Type 2850 in Entry price.

    Success criteria: Entry price field shows your 5%-below number

  5. Set TP = 15%, SL = 5%, Slippage = 1%, Watch for = 7 days

    TP % = 15. SL % = 5. The preview lines should show "→ Sells at $3,277.50" (TP) and "→ Sells at $2,707.50" (SL) given the example entry. Slippage = 1. Watch for = 7 days.

    Success criteria: Preview lines match the entry × (1±%) math

  6. Click Arm Smart Trade + sign 4 popups (approval + 3 legs)

    Click Arm Smart Trade. First-time USDC on CoW Base: ERC-20 approval transaction (gas ~$0.05). Then 3 EIP-712 signatures back-to-back: "Sign 1 of 3 — Entry", "Sign 2 of 3 — Take-profit", "Sign 3 of 3 — Stop-loss". Be ready to click 3-4 times rapidly. Each signature is free.

    Success criteria: Toast: "Smart Trade created — entry at $2850, TP +15%, SL -5%". Row appears in the orders list

  7. Watch the 3-state lifecycle

    Row starts at Waiting for entry (amber). When ETH drops to ≤ $2850, entry leg fills → status flips to TP/SL Armed (emerald) → you now hold WETH worth 25 USDC. The TP and SL watchers go live (Chainlink-triggered). When either trigger crosses: that leg fills, the other auto-cancels, status flips to Completed.

    Success criteria: You can articulate when each status transition happens

What's next

You have one autonomous bracket trade live. If ETH never drops 5% in 7 days, the entire bundle expires unfilled — your USDC was never touched. If entry fills, you wake up to either +15% gain (TP fired) or -5% loss (SL fired). Repeat with larger size + tighter TP/SL once comfortable with the lifecycle.