Running a Binance P2P bot around the clock on a VPS
A repricing bot only works while it is running. On your own computer, that means it stops when the laptop sleeps. A VPS, a small rented server, keeps it going all day and night.
Do you need one?
Probably not at first. Run the bot on your own computer in simulation mode, then for real during the hours you trade. Move to a VPS when:
- your ads run while you sleep or travel;
- your computer isn't on most of the day;
- you have seen what the bot does and trust your limits.
What size
Repricing is light work. The part that needs memory is the Chrome browser used to log in to Binance. A server with 2 GB of RAM, one or two CPU cores and 20 GB of disk is enough. Most providers rent that for a few euros a month.
Pick a location where Binance works normally. Binance restricts some countries, and a server there may be refused.
The login problem
Binance P2P has no API keys for editing ads, so a bot works through a logged-in web session. On a server there is no screen to type your password into. Two common workarounds:
- log in on your own computer and copy the session over, which breaks whenever the session ends;
- run a browser on the server and show its screen to you remotely.
The second is more reliable. When Binance asks you to log in again, you open the server's browser window from your own device and log in there, with your normal two-factor code.
Keep it private
A server exposed to the internet needs care:
- put the control panel behind HTTPS and a password;
- don't open extra ports;
- treat the saved session like a password, because it gives access to your Binance account;
- keep the server updated.
How the P2P Trade Bot Server edition does it
The Server edition is a Docker setup for any Linux VPS. One script asks for your domain and a panel password, then starts:
- the bot;
- a web server with an automatic HTTPS certificate and password protection for the panel;
- a browser with a remote view on a secret address, for Binance logins.
When a login is needed, the bot sends you the link on Telegram. You open it, log in, and the bot continues. Setup instructions are in the edition's SETUP.md.
Related: is a P2P bot safe to use?