Connecting portfolio trackers in Kenya with read-only exchange API keys

Once you hold assets on more than one exchange, keeping track of your total position becomes tedious. Portfolio trackers and accounting tools promise to do it for you, and most of them connect through API keys. That convenience comes with a question you should answer before clicking anything: what exactly will this app be allowed to do? An API key is a set of credentials that lets software act on your account within the permissions you choose. For a tracker, the right answer is almost always to read balances and history, nothing more. This guide shows how to think about permissions on Binance, OKX, Bybit and Bitget, how to store the secret safely and how to keep the number of active keys under control.

A tracker only needs to read

Viewing balances, trades and deposits requires read access only. There is no reason for a portfolio tool to place orders or move funds, so leave trading and withdrawal permissions switched off when creating the key. If an app insists it needs more, treat that as a warning sign and look for an alternative or contact the developer for an explanation. Create a separate key for each tool rather than sharing one across several services. That way, if one app is compromised or you stop using it, you can delete its key without breaking everything else.

Restrict keys to known IP addresses where possible

Many exchanges let you bind an API key to specific IP addresses. If the tracker publishes the fixed addresses its servers use, add them to the key so it cannot be used from anywhere else. A key without restrictions can be used from any location if it leaks. Where a service cannot provide fixed addresses, some exchanges limit how long an unrestricted key stays valid, which is another reason to keep permissions to read-only. Check each platform's official help centre for how restrictions and expiry work in your account.

Handle the secret like a password

The secret part of an API key is usually shown once at creation. Paste it directly into the tool you are connecting and, if you need a copy, store it in a password manager rather than a notes app, email or screenshot. Never share keys in chat groups, even with people offering to help set up a tool. Nobody from an exchange will ask you for your API secret. If you suspect a key has been exposed, delete it at once and create a new one; regenerating takes a minute, while cleaning up misuse can take much longer.

Audit active keys every month

Set a monthly reminder to open the API management page on every exchange you use. Compare the list of keys with the tools you still actively use, and remove anything you do not recognise or no longer need. Give each key a clear label with the tool name and creation date so this review takes only a few minutes. While you are there, check recent login activity and security alerts for anything unfamiliar. A short routine like this keeps your exposure small even as you try new apps over time.

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Scenario checkpoint

• Create API keys for portfolio trackers with read-only permission and leave trading and withdrawals disabled.
• Issue a separate, clearly labelled key for each tool so one can be deleted without affecting the others.
• Bind keys to the tracker's published IP addresses whenever the exchange and the service support it.
• Keep API secrets in a password manager and never paste them into chats, emails or screenshots.
• Review the API management page on every exchange monthly and delete keys you no longer recognise.