This comprehensive guide walks you through the entire process of setting up automated copy trading on Jupiter Perps using PerpsTracker. From getting your Pro or Elite subscription to making your first copied trade, we'll cover everything step by step.
Important Disclaimer
Copy trading involves significant financial risk. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Only trade with funds you can afford to lose. Start with paper trading mode to test your setup before using real funds.
The Complete Copy Trading Flow
Your Copy Trading Journey
The copy trading system works by monitoring your watchlist for trade activity in real-time. When a trader you're following opens a position, your CopyTrader bot instantly receives the alert and can automatically mirror that trade on your wallet—scaled to your account size and risk settings.
Step 1: Get Your Pro or Elite Subscription
Why Pro or Elite?
The CopyTrader bot is available with Pro or Elite subscriptions:
- WebSocket Alerts - Real-time trade notifications (sub-second latency)
- Watchlist - Pro: 3 traders, Elite: up to 100 traders
- CopyTrader Download - Access to the official trading bot
- API Access - Required for bot authentication
How to Subscribe
- Go to the Pricing page
- Click "Get Started" on the Pro ($49/month) or Elite plan ($99/month)
- Connect your Solana wallet
- Complete payment in SOL, USDC, or USDT
- Your subscription activates instantly
Pro Tip
Save on fees by holding $PERPS tokens! Token holders get reduced copy trading fees: 1M tokens = 0.75%, 2.5M = 0.50%, 5M = 0.25%, 10M+ = 0% (free). Check our Tokenomics page for details.
Step 2: Create Your API Key
Generate API Credentials
Your API key authenticates the CopyTrader bot with PerpsTracker's WebSocket alerts. Without it, you won't receive trade notifications.
- Go to your Dashboard
- Scroll to "API Keys" section
- Click "+ New Key"
- Give your key a name (e.g., "CopyTrader Bot")
- Copy and save your key immediately - it's only shown once!
Security Warning
Your API key grants access to your account's real-time alerts. Never share it publicly, commit it to git repositories, or expose it in logs. If compromised, delete it immediately and create a new one.
Step 3: Build Your Watchlist of Top Traders
Find Profitable Traders to Copy
The success of your copy trading depends entirely on choosing the right traders to follow. This is the most important step—take your time here.
Read: How to Find Top Traders on the Leaderboard →Key Metrics to Evaluate
| Metric | What to Look For | Red Flags |
|---|---|---|
| Win Rate | 55%+ consistently over 30+ days | Below 50% or highly volatile |
| Trade Count | 50+ trades (statistical significance) | Under 20 trades |
| PnL Consistency | Steady growth, not one big win | Single trade dominates PnL |
| Max Drawdown | Under 20% preferred | Over 50% drawdown events |
| Leverage | 2-10x average | Constant 50x+ leverage |
| Trading Style | Matches your risk tolerance | Scalper if you want swing trades |
How to Add Traders to Your Watchlist
- Go to the Leaderboard
- Use filters to find traders matching your criteria
- Click on a trader to view their full profile
- Click the star icon or "Add to Watchlist" button
- Repeat for 5-10 traders to diversify your copying
Diversification Strategy
Don't put all your eggs in one basket! Follow 5-10 traders with different trading styles (scalpers, swing traders, trend followers) to smooth out your returns and reduce risk.
Step 4: Enable Real-Time Alerts
Activate WebSocket Alerts
With a Pro or Elite subscription, your watchlist automatically broadcasts real-time alerts when any tracked trader opens, closes, or modifies a position.
The CopyTrader connects to these alerts via WebSocket—no polling, no delays. You'll receive trade data within milliseconds of the original trade.
Learn More: WebSocket Alerts Deep Dive →Alert Data You'll Receive
// Real-time trade alert payload
{
"type": "trade.new",
"trader": "7xKp...ABC",
"market": "SOL-PERP",
"side": "long",
"size": 5000,
"leverage": 5,
"entryPrice": 185.50,
"timestamp": "2025-01-15T14:32:01.234Z"
}
Step 5: Download and Install the CopyTrader
Get the Official CopyTrader Bot
The CopyTrader is a Python application with a full web-based dashboard. It requires Python 3.8 or higher and runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Download from Dashboard →Installation Steps
The CopyTrader includes auto-install scripts for both Windows and Linux/macOS that handle Python virtual environment creation, dependency installation, and launching the dashboard in one command:
# 1. Extract the downloaded zip
unzip PerpsTracker-Copytrader-Python-Beta.zip
cd PerpsTracker-Copytrader-Python-Beta
# 2. Run the convenience launcher (installs + starts)
# Linux / macOS:
chmod +x START_LINUX_MAC.sh
./START_LINUX_MAC.sh
# Windows:
# Double-click START_WINDOWS.cmd
# Or right-click scripts\windows\install.ps1 → Run with PowerShell
# The browser opens automatically to the dashboard
# URL: http://127.0.0.1:8080/?token=YOUR_SECURE_TOKEN
For manual setup (advanced users):
# Create and activate virtual environment
python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate # Linux/macOS
# venv\Scripts\activate # Windows
# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt
# Launch the web dashboard
python -m src.jupiter_perps gui
Web Dashboard
On first launch, the CopyTrader starts a local web server and opens your browser automatically. The dashboard URL includes a secure session token (e.g., http://127.0.0.1:8080/?token=...). All configuration—wallet setup, API key, risk settings, and copy preferences—is done through this browser interface.
Step 6: Configure Your Wallet
Set Up Your Trading Wallet
Your CopyTrader needs access to a Solana wallet to execute trades. In the dashboard, go to Settings > Wallet to import your wallet. We recommend using a dedicated trading wallet—not your main wallet.
Wallet Import Options
- Upload JSON File - Upload your wallet's keypair JSON file
- Paste JSON Content - Copy-paste the JSON keypair array directly
- Base58 Private Key - Enter your wallet's base58-encoded private key
Security Best Practices
- Use a dedicated trading wallet with only trading funds
- Never use your main wallet or cold storage
- Keep only enough funds for trading + fees
- The private key is stored locally on your machine and never sent to any server
Fund Your Trading Wallet
Your wallet needs:
- SOL - For transaction fees (~0.1 SOL minimum)
- USDC - Primary trading collateral (recommended)
- Optionally: SOL, ETH, or BTC can be used as collateral for their respective markets
Step 7: Configure Copy Trading Settings
Customize Your Trading Parameters
Open the Settings modal in the dashboard to configure your copy trading behavior. Settings are organized across multiple tabs: General, Wallet, Copy, Risk, Telegram, and Advanced.
General Settings (Settings > General)
API Key
Your PerpsTracker API key (Pro or Elite) for WebSocket alerts and watchlist data
RPC URL
Solana RPC endpoint (defaults to mainnet-beta, custom RPC recommended for speed)
Default Slippage
Slippage tolerance in basis points (default: 50 bps = 0.5%)
Price Source
Choose between Doves Oracle (on-chain, default) or PerpsTracker API for price data
Copy Settings (Settings > Copy)
Copy Mode
How to size copied positions: Fixed USD amount, Percentage of balance, Direct Copy (match trader's size), or Trader Percentage (% of trader's size)
Fixed Collateral
Default collateral per trade in USD when using Fixed Size mode (default: $15)
Leverage Mode
Copy the trader's exact leverage or use a fixed leverage for all trades
Max Leverage
Maximum leverage cap—trades exceeding this are capped (default: 50x, max: 250x)
Copy Behavior Settings
Copy Opens
Copy when a trader opens a new position (default: on)
Copy Closes
Copy when a trader fully closes a position (default: on)
Copy Increases
Copy when a trader adds to an existing position (default: on)
Copy Decreases
Copy when a trader partially closes / reduces a position (default: on)
Per-Market Collateral Tokens
Choose which token to use as collateral for each market:
- SOL Market - Use SOL or USDC as collateral
- BTC Market - Use BTC or USDC as collateral
- ETH Market - Use ETH or USDC as collateral
Risk Management (Settings > Risk)
Minimum Balance Reserve
Stop opening new trades if wallet balance falls below this amount (default: $10)
Max Position Size
Maximum collateral for any single position in USD (default: $1,000)
Max Total Exposure
Maximum combined exposure across all open positions (default: $5,000)
Max Concurrent Positions
Limit how many positions can be open at once (default: unlimited)
Advanced Risk Management
The CopyTrader includes powerful risk management features for professional traders:
Daily Loss Limit
Pause copying after reaching a daily loss threshold (USD or % of balance)
Trailing Stop Loss
Automatically trail your stop loss as profit increases (configurable activation % and trail distance %)
Breakeven Stop Loss
Move SL to entry price (+ small offset to cover fees) after reaching a profit target
Auto TP/SL
Automatically set take-profit and stop-loss on every new position
Entry Filters
Control exactly which trades get copied:
Min/Max Trader Size
Only copy trades where the trader's position size is within your specified USD range
Leverage Limits
Skip trades where the trader's leverage is outside your min/max range
Entry Delay
Wait a configurable number of seconds before executing the copy
Max Entry Slippage
Skip the trade if the price has moved more than X% since the alert
DCA, Profit Lock & Position Management
Advanced position management features:
- DCA (Dollar Cost Averaging): Automatically add to losing positions at configurable loss levels with customizable size multiplier and max DCA entries
- Scale-Out: Partial profit taking at multiple levels (e.g., close 25% at +10% profit, another 25% at +20%)
- Profit Lock / Ratcheting SL: Lock profits at multiple levels (e.g., at +10% profit, lock SL at +5%)
- Force Close: Auto-close at configurable max profit % or max loss % thresholds
- Max Duration: Automatically close positions after a time limit (hours)
Additional Features
- Trading Hours: Restrict copy trading to specific UTC hours and days of the week
- Losing Streak Pause: Pause copying after N consecutive losses, resume after N wins
- Dynamic Size Adjustment: Automatically increase position size after wins and decrease after losses
- Funding Rate Filter: Skip trades when the funding rate exceeds a threshold
- Enabled Markets: Restrict copying to specific markets only (SOL, ETH, BTC)
- Multi-Wallet: Use multiple wallets with round-robin or balance-based rotation
Recommended Starting Settings
- Copy Mode: Fixed Size, $50-200 per trade (start small!)
- Max Leverage: 5x or less
- Min Balance Reserve: 50% of starting balance
- Max Total Exposure: 30% of total balance
- Daily Loss Limit: 5-10% of balance
- Auto-Execute: Off initially (use manual confirmation until comfortable)
Step 8: Set Up Traders to Copy
Configure Which Wallets to Copy
Your watchlist automatically loads from PerpsTracker after entering your API key. In the dashboard's Traders tab, you can view all your watched traders and enable auto-copying for each one.
Per-Trader Settings
For each trader you enable, you can configure custom overrides:
- Enabled/Disabled - Toggle auto-copying for this trader
- Custom Collateral - Override the default position size for this trader
- Custom Copy Mode - Use a different copy mode than your default
- Custom Leverage - Override leverage mode and max leverage
- Copy Behavior - Toggle copy on open, increase, decrease, and close per trader
// Example: Per-trader override settings
{
"wallet": "7xKp...ABC",
"enabled": true,
"collateral": 100, // $100 per trade for this trader
"copyMode": "fixed_size",
"leverageMode": "copy_trader", // Match this trader's leverage
"maxLeverage": 10,
"copyOnOpen": true,
"copyOnClose": true,
"copyOnIncrease": true,
"copyOnDecrease": true
}
Step 9: Test with Paper Trading
Validate Your Setup Risk-Free
Always start in Paper Trading mode! This simulates trades without using real funds, letting you verify everything works correctly before risking capital.
How to Enable Paper Trading
- In the dashboard header, toggle "Paper Trading" ON
- Start the copytrade engine from the dashboard
- All trades will be simulated (including a realistic 0.12% fee estimate)
- Monitor simulated positions in the Positions tab
- Run for at least 24-48 hours to validate your settings
Paper Trading Checklist
- Verify you receive alerts from all watched traders in the Activity tab
- Confirm position sizing matches your settings
- Check that leverage caps are respected
- Ensure balance protection triggers work
- Review the History tab for any errors or skipped trades
Step 10: Go Live!
Start Copy Trading with Real Funds
Once you're confident in your setup after paper trading, switch to live mode:
- Toggle OFF Paper Trading in the dashboard header
- Ensure your wallet has sufficient funds (SOL for fees + USDC for collateral)
- Start with smaller position sizes than you ultimately want
- Monitor actively for the first few days
- Gradually increase sizes as you gain confidence
You're Ready!
Your CopyTrader will now automatically mirror trades from the traders you're following. The bot runs 24/7 (when your machine is on), catching every trade in real-time via WebSocket.
Using the Dashboard
The CopyTrader's web dashboard is organized into six main tabs:
Overview Tab
- System Health: RPC, API, and Oracle connection status with latency indicators
- Wallet Balance: Real-time SOL, USDC, ETH, and BTC balances
- Performance Stats: PnL summary, win rate, and trade counts
- Quick Actions: Start/stop copytrading, toggle paper mode
Positions Tab
- Open Positions Table: Market, Side, Size, Collateral, Leverage, Entry Price, Mark Price, Duration, Liquidation Price & Distance %, TP/SL, PnL $ and %, Funding, Max Drawdown, Copied From
- Quick Actions: Close, Partial Close %, Expand Details for each position
- Manual Trading: Open new positions with custom collateral and leverage (up to 250x)
Activity Tab
- Real-Time Feed: Live stream of trade alerts from your watchlist
- One-Click Copy: Copy any trade manually with "Match Trader" or "My Settings" options
- Trade Details: Market, side, size, leverage, and trader wallet for each alert
History Tab
- Execution Log: Complete record of all copy trade actions and results
- Filters: Filter by Success, Skipped, or Failed trades
- Skip Reasons: Understand why trades were skipped (balance, exposure, filters, etc.)
- Trade History: All completed trades with entry/exit prices and PnL
Traders Tab
- Watchlist: All tracked traders from your PerpsTracker watchlist
- Per-Trader Stats: Performance metrics for each trader you're copying
- Per-Trader Settings: Custom overrides (collateral, leverage, copy behavior) per trader
- Enable/Disable: Toggle auto-copying for individual traders
Charts & Analytics
- PnL Charts: Visualize your profit and loss over time
- Performance Analysis: Per-trader and per-market breakdowns
- Asset Prices: Real-time price ticker with configurable update intervals
Telegram Integration
The CopyTrader includes full Telegram bot integration for remote monitoring and control:
- Trade Alerts: Receive instant notifications when trades are copied, closed, or skipped
- Remote Commands: Check balance, view positions, open/close trades, and change settings—all from Telegram
- Status Updates: Get health alerts, daily summaries, and error notifications
- Setup: Create a bot via @BotFather, then enter your Bot Token and Chat ID in Settings > Telegram
Auto-Updates
The CopyTrader can update itself directly from your PerpsTracker dashboard:
- Check for updates in Settings > Update
- Updates download and replace individual files (no full re-download needed)
- The application restarts automatically after an update
- Your settings, database, and wallet data are preserved across updates
Data Storage
All CopyTrader data is stored locally on your machine:
- Linux/macOS:
~/.local/share/perpstracker/ - Windows:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\PerpsTrackerRunner\
This includes your settings.json (configuration), copytrader.db (SQLite database with all positions, trades, and history), wallet keypair, and logs.
Monitoring and Optimization
Daily Monitoring Tasks
- Check the dashboard's Overview tab for system health
- Review open positions and their performance in the Positions tab
- Monitor your wallet balance and total exposure
- Check the History tab for any failed or skipped trade executions
Weekly Optimization
- Review trader performance in the Traders tab
- Disable traders who are underperforming
- Add promising new traders to your watchlist on PerpsTracker
- Adjust position sizes based on results
- Fine-tune leverage and risk settings
Troubleshooting Common Issues
| Issue | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| No alerts received | Invalid API key or expired subscription | Verify API key in Settings > General, check subscription status on dashboard |
| Trades not executing | Insufficient balance or SOL for fees | Add funds to trading wallet, check min balance reserve setting |
| Position size wrong | Incorrect copy mode or per-trader override | Review Settings > Copy and Traders tab per-trader settings |
| WebSocket disconnects | Network issues or RPC instability | Bot auto-reconnects; check internet stability, consider a dedicated RPC |
| Trades being skipped | Entry filters, exposure limits, or balance protection triggered | Check History tab for skip reasons, adjust risk settings if too conservative |
| Dashboard won't open | Port conflict or missing session token | Check terminal output for the URL with token, try a different port with -p 8081 |
Related Resources
Continue Learning:
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