6. Configuration

Configuration

The bot reads its settings from environment variables. Locally, it also loads a .env file if one is present (use .env.example as a template). In production, Doppler injects them at runtime.

Credentials & Alerts

Parameter	Required	Description
KALSHI_API_KEY	Yes	Kalshi API key ID. The bot refuses to start without it.
KALSHI_PRIVATE_KEY	One of these two	RSA private key contents, used to sign requests. Preferred in production, so the key never touches disk.
KALSHI_PRIVATE_KEY_PATH	One of these two	Path to the RSA private key file, for local development.
ALERT_WEBHOOK_URL	No	Slack or Discord webhook for safeguard and kill-switch alerts.

Trading & Sizing

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
KALSHI_ENV	string	prod	Exchange environment: demo or prod.
TARGET_TICKER	string	""	Target market ticker (e.g. KXNFLGAME-26OCT04DALHOU-DAL), league (NFL) or category. Empty triggers automatic in-season discovery.
ORDER_SIZE	integer	1	Fallback number of contracts to quote per side.
ORDER_DOLLARS	float	1.0	Minimum dollar allocation per quote, used to size orders dynamically.
MAX_ORDER_CONTRACTS	integer	100	Maximum contracts allowed in a single order.
MAX_HEDGE_INVENTORY	integer	250	Upper cap on the hedge threshold: min(5 × quote size, MAX_HEDGE_INVENTORY) with dollar sizing, or min(5, MAX_HEDGE_INVENTORY) with fixed sizing.
MIN_SPREAD	integer	4	Minimum spread between bid and ask, in cents.
RISK_GAMMA	float	0.7	Risk-aversion parameter (γ) controlling how strongly quotes skew against inventory.

Safeguards

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
MIN_MID_PRICE	integer	10	Lower price collar, in cents. Quoting stops below this mid price.
MAX_MID_PRICE	integer	90	Upper price collar, in cents. Quoting stops above this mid price.
MAX_SESSION_FEES_CENTS	integer	250	Session fees, in cents, that trigger liquidation and rotation.
MAX_SESSION_LOSS_CENTS	integer	300	Session net loss, in cents, that triggers liquidation and rotation.
POST_FILL_PAUSE_SECONDS	float	3.0	Pause after a fill before quoting again.
PRICE_VELOCITY_THRESHOLD_CENTS	float	6.0	Mid-price move, in cents, that trips the fast-market breaker.
PRICE_VELOCITY_WINDOW_SECONDS	float	20.0	Rolling window used to measure that move.
PRICE_VELOCITY_QUIESCE_SECONDS	float	30.0	How long quotes stay pulled after the breaker trips.
MAX_EXPIRATION_DAYS	float	8.0	Only markets expiring within this many days are eligible, to avoid locking up capital.
EXPIRATION_BUFFER_MINUTES	integer	90	Minutes before expiry when the bot stops quoting, liquidates and rotates.

Database

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
DB_HOST	string	localhost	PostgreSQL host (db inside Docker Compose).
DB_PORT	integer	5432	PostgreSQL port.
DB_NAME	string	kalshi_bot	Database name.
DB_USER	string	postgres	Database user.
DB_PASSWORD	string	postgres	Database password. Docker Compose requires this to be set explicitly.

For the seasonal matrix and series precedence rules used by market discovery, see the Sports Season Router specification.