> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://quantumfinance.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Start, Configure, and Stop the Auto-Trading Engine

> A full walk-through of the Trading tab: choosing a mode, picking a pair and strategy, setting your amount, and reading live engine output.

The Trading tab is where you configure and launch the Quantum auto-trading engine. The engine opens and closes positions autonomously based on the strategy you choose. This guide walks you through every control, from picking Demo or Real mode to reading the live execution feed.

## Choose a trading mode

At the top of the Trading tab, you will see two mode buttons: **DEMO** and **REAL**.

* **Demo** — trades are simulated against your \$10,000 demo balance. No real funds move. Use this to learn the platform or test strategies.
* **Real** — the engine executes trades on-chain using BNB from your TradingVault balance. You must have vault funds before starting.

Click the button for the mode you want. The interface reflects the active mode — Demo shows a blue accent, Real shows orange.

## Check the network status

Before starting the engine, confirm the network status indicator (top-right of the mode switcher bar) shows **Secure Connection** in green.

<Warning>
  If the indicator shows **Unstable Feed** (yellow) or **Offline** (red), the engine will not start. An unstable or high-latency connection can cause execution errors during high-frequency trading. Move to a more reliable network before proceeding.
</Warning>

## Configure your trade

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select an asset pair">
    In the **Asset Pair** dropdown, choose the market you want the engine to trade. The selected pair's current price is shown in the live ticker above.

    **Supported pairs:**

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="USDT pairs">
        BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT, BNB/USDT, SOL/USDT, SUI/USDT, XRP/USDT, ADA/USDT, DOGE/USDT, AVAX/USDT, MATIC/USDT
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="USDC pairs">
        BTC/USDC, ETH/USDC, BNB/USDC
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick a strategy">
    Select one of the four strategy presets. Each changes how aggressively the engine enters and exits positions.

    | Strategy | Behavior |
    | - | - |
    | **Aggressive** | High-frequency entries, larger position swings |
    | **Momentum** | Follows trending price moves |
    | **Scalping** | Very short-duration trades targeting small price movements |
    | **Conservative** | Lower frequency, tighter risk controls |
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set a trade amount">
    Enter the amount in USDT that the engine will use per trade. Use the quick-set buttons — **100**, **500**, **1000** — or type a custom value directly into the field.

    In Real mode, the engine checks that your vault holds enough BNB to cover this amount before starting. See [Deposit and Withdraw](/guides/deposit-withdraw) for the calculation.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click START ENGINE">
    Click the **START ENGINE** button. The engine initialises, clears the execution feed, and begins trading. The button changes to **STOP ENGINE** and the Live Status panel becomes active.

    <Note>
      You cannot change the asset pair or strategy while the engine is running. Stop the engine first, then adjust your settings.
    </Note>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Read the live status panel

While the engine is running, the Live Status panel on the right shows:

* **Current pair** — the pair being traded.
* **Active amount** — the dynamic trade amount the engine is currently using.
* **Floating PnL** — unrealised profit or loss on the open position, updated in real time.
* **Elapsed time** — how long the engine has been running in the current session.

## Read the execution feed

Below the Live Status panel, the **Execution Feed** streams a timestamped log of engine activity: order flow analysis, momentum detections, order executions, and trade closures with their PnL. The feed holds the ten most recent entries.

## Stop the engine

Click **STOP ENGINE**. The engine immediately stops opening new positions and the button label changes to **PROTOCOL SETTLING...**. During settling, the engine closes any open positions. Once all positions are closed, the button returns to **START ENGINE** and the elapsed timer resets.

<Warning>
  Do not close the browser tab while the engine is settling. Leaving the page mid-settlement may leave a position open until the engine resumes.
</Warning>

## View recent trades

Below the Live Status panel, the **Recent Trades** table shows your last 20 completed trades with pair, direction (LONG / SHORT), strategy, amount, PnL, duration, and outcome. Click any row to expand it and see entry price, exit price, lot size, leverage (100×), and the timestamp the trade was opened.


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