Frequently asked questions
Short, honest answers. Still stuck? Email support@nicholastrading.com.
What is Nicholas?
Nicholas is a crypto trading bot for beginners. It trades in your own Alpaca account under strict safety rules and explains every box, number and coin on its dashboard in plain words.
Is Nicholas free?
Nicholas is in an invite-only beta and costs nothing to use during the beta. Alpaca charges its own trading fees on real-money crypto trades.
Do I need trading experience?
No. Nicholas is built for people who have never traded. Every part of the screen has a tap-to-hear explanation, and the Academy mode teaches the basics one unit at a time.
Which broker does it work with?
Alpaca, today. You need an Alpaca account; every Alpaca account includes a free paper (practice) account. More brokers are planned.
Can Nicholas withdraw my money?
No. It can place and cancel orders. It cannot deposit, withdraw or move money anywhere.
Do I give you my password or API keys?
No. You approve Nicholas on Alpaca's own sign-in page, and you can revoke that approval from your Alpaca dashboard at any time.
Does it start with real money?
No. Every account starts on paper, with pretend money, so you can watch it work without risking anything.
Will I make money?
Nobody can promise that, and you should be wary of anyone who does. Nicholas's engines are tested after fees on data they never saw, but nothing has shown a reliable profit with real money yet. Only invest what you can afford to lose.
Which coins does it trade?
Crypto only, on Alpaca, mainly large coins such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. No stocks, no options, no leverage.
How do I get an invite?
Request one at app.nicholastrading.com/join and tell us a little about you.
New to all this? Start with the beginner guides.