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Passivbot Review

Public-domain (Unlicense) grid/martingale futures bot for Bybit, OKX, Binance, Bitget and Hyperliquid - raw power for developers, invisible for everyone else.

Self-hosted Open source Free tier US ok
7.2
no user ratings yet
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// Review

by the bitcointradingbots editorial desk · review version 1 · qwen3-235b-a22b-instruct-2507 · facts as of 2026-09-03 · how we verify

Overview

Passivbot is an active, open-source, self-hosted trading bot launched in 2020 and released into the public domain under the Unlicense. It specializes in grid and DCA strategies for futures markets on five major exchanges, including Bybit and OKX. There is no UI—configuration is done via files, making it ideal for developers but inaccessible to non-technical users. It does not offer TradingView signals or arbitrage.

Security & Custody

Passivbot is self-hosted, meaning you retain full control of your API keys and trading infrastructure—no third party ever accesses them. There are no IP whitelisting or OAuth safeguards built into the platform itself; security depends entirely on your setup. No security incidents have been reported. Since you run it locally or on your own server, the risk of centralized breaches is eliminated, but misconfiguration remains a user-level risk.

Pricing & Plans

Passivbot is completely free to use, with no pricing tiers, subscription fees, or volume-based charges. It operates under the Unlicense, placing it in the public domain. There is no trial period or refund policy because no payment is required. You can download, modify, and run it at no cost—ideal for developers seeking full control without financial commitment.

Bots & Features

Passivbot supports grid trading, DCA, and futures trading on select exchanges, with backtesting and paper trading capabilities for strategy validation. It does not support spot trading, arbitrage, market making, copy trading, AI, or TradingView signals. Custom code integration is fully allowed, reflecting its developer-focused design. There is no documented limit on the number of bots you can run, but operation is manual and file-based, with no graphical interface.

Exchanges & Access

Passivbot connects to five exchanges: Bybit, OKX, Binance, Bitget, and Hyperliquid—primarily focused on futures markets. It is available to users in both the US and EU, with no geographic restrictions enforced by the software. Since it's self-hosted, access depends on your ability to configure API connections and comply with each exchange’s regional policies.

Reputation & Incidents

Passivbot holds strong credibility among developer communities, with 2,088 GitHub stars as of 2026 and consistent updates—the latest push was on 2026-09-02. It is recognized as a reliable, no-cost tool for futures grid and martingale strategies. Reddit discussions highlight the surrounding ecosystem of backtesting tools built to complement platforms like this. No red flags or security incidents have been reported, and the Unlicense model reinforces its transparency.

Verdict

Passivbot is a powerful, free, and secure option for developers comfortable with command-line tools and manual configuration. It’s not suitable for beginners. If you want full control over a futures grid bot on Bybit or OKX without paying fees, and can manage your own infrastructure, this is a trustworthy choice.

FAQ

  • Is Passivbot legit and safe? Yes, it’s open-source, self-hosted, and public domain. You control your keys and code—no third party can access your funds.
  • How much does Passivbot cost? It’s completely free. No payments, subscriptions, or fees of any kind are required.
  • Do I need API keys to use Passivbot? Yes, you must generate API keys from your exchange and configure them in the bot’s settings file.
  • Does Passivbot support grid bots? Yes, grid trading is a core feature, especially tuned for futures markets on Bybit and OKX.
  • Can I use DCA bots with Passivbot? Yes, dollar-cost averaging (DCA) is supported alongside grid strategies in futures trading.
  • Does Passivbot accept TradingView signals? No, it does not support TradingView alerts or signal integration.
  • Is Passivbot available in the US? Yes, it’s usable in the US since it’s self-hosted, but your access depends on the exchange’s local policies.

++ What works

  • Truly public domain (Unlicense) - no license restrictions at all
  • Battle-tested by its community on Bybit/OKX since 2020
  • Backtesting + optimization of grid/martingale parameters
  • Runs anywhere: VPS, home server, even a laptop
  • No fees, no vendor, no lock-in

-- What to watch

  • Config-file driven - zero GUI, developer skills required
  • One strategy family only (grid/martingale futures)
  • Martingale logic carries real drawdown risk - parameter discipline is everything
  • Community support only (GitHub issues)

// Passivbot FAQ

Is Passivbot legit and safe to use?

Based on our checks as of 2026-09-03: Passivbot scores 7.2/10 in our weighted review. It is operated by enarjord / open-source community. We logged no red flags. User reports and operator background are documented with dated sources in the meta-review below.

How much does Passivbot cost?

It’s completely free. No payments, subscriptions, or fees of any kind are required.

Do I need API keys to use Passivbot?

Yes, you must generate API keys from your exchange and configure them in the bot’s settings file.

Does Passivbot support grid bots?

Yes, grid trading is a core feature, especially tuned for futures markets on Bybit and OKX.

Can I use DCA bots with Passivbot?

Yes, dollar-cost averaging (DCA) is supported alongside grid strategies in futures trading.

Does Passivbot accept TradingView signals?

No, it does not support TradingView alerts or signal integration.

Is Passivbot available in the US?

Yes, it’s usable in the US since it’s self-hosted, but your access depends on the exchange’s local policies.

// The meta-review: what the internet says about Passivbot

We do not expect you to trust us. This review is a meta-review: below you see what other review sites claim, what users report on Reddit and forums, and who actually operates Passivbot. Every claim links to its source so you can verify it yourself. Our verdict forms from these sources plus our own fact checks - not the other way around.

// What other reviewers say (0)

Heads-up: most trading-bot "reviews" are affiliate content. We mark our reliability judgement on every source and include critical voices deliberately.

No third-party reviews with usable evidence found yet. In this niche that is itself a signal - most "review" sites are paid placements.

// What users say (1)

Reddit, forums, complaint boards. Anecdotes, not proof - but patterns across threads are the best early-warning system this industry has.

reddit.com/r/CryptoMarkets neutral

Made a backtesting tool for grid bots - need your feedback

Community thread from our pullpush corpus referencing external grid backtesting tooling built because platforms lack it - the ecosystem around grid/martingale parameter research that passivbot lives in.

source dated 2025-01-24 · verified by us 2026-09-03 · HTTP 403 · known site, treat as indicative

// AI fact summary - everything we know, compressed

Generated by qwen3-235b-a22b-instruct-2507 on 2026-09-03 from our fact database plus the 2 linked sources above. It summarizes - it does not add facts. Check anything that matters against the linked sources.

Bottom line: Passivbot is a self-hosted, open-source futures trading bot specializing in grid and martingale strategies, designed for technical users comfortable with manual setup and risk management across Bybit, OKX, Binance, Bitget and Hyperliquid. Security reality: Since it is self-hosted, users retain full custody of funds and API keys, eliminating third-party custodial risk, but placing the burden of security configuration entirely on the user. Pricing reality: Passivbot is completely free, released under the Unlicense into the public domain, with no paid tiers, subscriptions or hidden costs. What users say vs. what marketing says: There is no official marketing; the bot’s reputation emerges from its GitHub presence and community discussions, where users value its flexibility and transparency, though external threads indicate a need for third-party tools to properly evaluate strategy parameters due to limited built-in backtesting. Who runs it: The project is maintained by developer enarjord, supported by an open-source community, with no corporate entity or formal organization behind it—development activity remains active as of 2026.

// Sources & how this review was built

Every external source used on this page, with the date we fetched it. Methodology: how we verify. Sources disappear or change - if a link is dead, tell us via contact.

  1. [1] community reddit.com/r/CryptoMarkets - Made a backtesting tool for grid bots - need your feedback dated 2025-01-24 · fetched 2026-09-03 · HTTP 403
  2. [2] operator github.com - enarjord/passivbot repository fetched 2026-09-03 · HTTP 200

// Rate Passivbot

Community score: no ratings yet

One rating per user and bot. Smoothed display (statistical prior) prevents single-vote manipulation.

// User comments (0)

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