Automated trading on Bitvavo: how to invest on autopilot with Diamond Pigs

Key takeaways

• Automated trading on Bitvavo connects a platform to your account via API so trades happen automatically, 24/7, based on a defined strategy.
• Diamond Pigs uses strategy-based investing, rather than speculative signals, making it suited for long-term investors who don't want to watch charts.
• Your assets stay in your Bitvavo account at all times. The API connection never grants withdrawal access.
• Setup takes around 15 minutes. Use Play Mode to test your chosen strategy before going live.
• Built-in risk management — including drawdown protection and diversification — is part of every strategy, not an optional add-on.

What automated trading on Bitvavo actually means

Bitvavo is one of Europe's largest crypto exchanges - regulated, euro-native, and trusted by hundreds of thousands of investors. But owning crypto on Bitvavo and growing it are two different things. Markets move at night, over weekends, and during the ten minutes you step away from your screen.

Automated trading means connecting a platform to your Bitvavo account via API so that buy and sell decisions happen automatically, based on a defined strategy - without you needing to act, watch, or worry.

The API connection is read/write for trading, but Diamond Pigs never has access to withdraw funds. Your crypto stays in your Bitvavo account at all times. You keep custody; we handle the execution.

Why Diamond Pigs -  not just any bot

Most trading bots hand you a set of technical indicators and expect you to configure them yourself. That works if you understand RSI divergence and Bollinger Bands. Most investors don't, and shouldn't have to.

Diamond Pigs takes a different approach: pre-built, research-backed investment strategies designed for long-term crypto investing rather than short-term speculation. You don't set thresholds or tune parameters. You pick a strategy that matches your risk profile, connect your Bitvavo account, and the platform manages execution from there.

The key differences:

• Strategy-first, not tool-first. Instead of giving you a toolbox, Diamond Pigs gives you a managed approach -  similar to how an index fund works, but for crypto.
• Your assets stay on Bitvavo. No transfers to a third-party wallet or exchange. The API connection trades on your account; Diamond Pigs never touches your funds directly.
• Designed for passive investors. You don't need to monitor charts. The platform runs in the background and sends you updates, not alerts requiring action.
• Transparent fees. No performance fees eating into your returns. See the full fee structure on the pricing page.

How are Diamond Pigs strategies different from simple DCA?

Many people associate automation with dollar-cost averaging. Dollar-cost averaging is a time-based investment method. It buys a fixed amount at fixed intervals, regardless of market structure. While it reduces timing risk, it does not adapt to changing conditions or actively manage exposure.

Diamond Pigs automated crypto strategies go significantly further. They include multiple trading bots that react to market structure, volatility, and trend signals. Instead of passively accumulating assets, the system can increase or reduce exposure depending on predefined risk parameters. Exposure is adjusted based on market signals, not calendar dates. In strong market phases, strategies can increase participation. In weakening conditions, they may reduce positions or move partially into stable allocations.This makes the approach adaptive rather than static, supporting long-term growth while managing downside risk.

Not sure which fits you? Use the Strategy Matching Tool to get a recommendation based on your goals and timeline.

Built-in risk management

Automated trading doesn't mean unprotected trading. Diamond Pigs includes risk management mechanics designed specifically for crypto's volatility - see the full breakdown on the risk management page.

In short:

Drawdown protection. If the market drops sharply, the strategy can shift toward more defensive positions automatically — reducing exposure without requiring you to make a panic decision at the worst possible moment.

No leverage, no margin. Diamond Pigs strategies trade spot only. There's no borrowed money, no liquidation risk, no way to lose more than you put in.

Diversification by design. Strategies spread exposure across multiple tokens, so a crash in a single coin doesn't devastate the whole portfolio.

Step-by-step setup guide

Setup takes around 15 minutes. You need a Bitvavo account and a Diamond Pigs account - both are free to open.

Step 1: Create a Bitvavo account

If you don't have one yet, sign up at Bitvavo. Complete identity verification (required by EU regulations) and deposit euro funds via iDEAL, bank transfer, or card.

Step 2: Create a Diamond Pigs account and try Play Mode 

Register at Diamond Pigs and try it first with Play Mode

Before committing real funds, Diamond Pigs offers Play Mode  - a simulated trading environment that runs your chosen strategy against live market data without executing real trades.

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Play Mode lets you:

• See how each strategy would have behaved during recent market conditions
• Build confidence before switching to live trading

It's strongly recommended for anyone new to automated investing.

Learn more about Play Mode in the knowledge base.

Step 3: Connect your Bitvavo wallet to Diamond Pigs via API 

1. Log in to Bitvavo and go to Settings → API.
2. Click Create new API key.
3. Enable the Trade permission. Leave withdrawal permissions off — Diamond Pigs doesn't need them and you shouldn't grant them to any third party.
4. Copy the API key and API secret shown on screen and Paste these into your Diamond Pigs account to connect both platforms.

Step 4: Select your strategy and go live

Browse the available strategies or use your matching result to choose. Review what each strategy invests in, the historical performance data, and the risk profile. When you're ready, activate it -  and the platform begins executing trades on your Bitvavo account automatically.

You can pause, switch strategies, or disconnect at any time.

Frequently asked questions

Is my money safe if Diamond Pigs has API access?

Yes. The API key grants trading permissions only — not withdrawal permissions. Diamond Pigs can place buy and sell orders on Bitvavo on your behalf, but cannot move funds out of your account. Your assets remain in your Bitvavo wallet throughout. For more on how the connection is secured, see Security & custody.

Can I still trade manually on Bitvavo while Diamond Pigs is active?

You can, but it's not recommended. Manual trades change your portfolio composition, which may cause the automated strategy to rebalance in a direction you didn't intend. Most users keep one Bitvavo (sub)account dedicated to Diamond Pigs.

How does Diamond Pigs automatically sell crypto on Bitvavo?

When a strategy's rules trigger a sell — for example, to rebalance after a token has grown above its target weight — Diamond Pigs places a market or limit order on Bitvavo via the API. You can see every trade in your Diamond Pigs dashboard and in your Bitvavo transaction history.

What coins does Diamond Pigs trade on Bitvavo?

This depends on the strategy. All strategies trade coins available on Bitvavo. Most focus on higher-liquidity tokens (BTC, ETH, and other major assets) to ensure orders execute cleanly. The full allocation for each strategy is shown in the strategy detail page before you activate it.

What are the costs?

Diamond Pigs charges a straightforward platform fee with no performance cut. Bitvavo charges its standard trading fees on every order placed. Full details are on the pricing page.

What if I want to stop?

You can pause or terminate your subscription and disconnect the API key in Bitvavo settings at any time. Your funds stay exactly where they are -  Diamond Pigs doesn't hold or custody anything, so disconnecting stops future trades.

Ready to connect? Create your Diamond Pigs account

Or, if you're still exploring: use the Strategy Matching Tool to find a starting point based on your goals, or browse performance results to see how strategies have behaved over time.

Related reading:

• Bitvavo login: Set up API keys to invest on autopilot — the detailed guide to generating and managing your API key securely
• Crypto trading bot comparison: beyond returns and dashboards — how to evaluate any automated trading platform before committing funds
• Risk management at Diamond Pigs — how the platform protects your portfolio when markets turn