This Node-RED flow creates and manages a diversified portfolio of 11 Bitcoin ETFs via the Alpaca API. The strategy automatically allocates equal portions of your portfolio across major spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, giving you exposure to Bitcoin through traditional stock market instruments.
Uses Alpaca's stock data nodes to fetch real-time ETF prices for accurate order quantity calculations during market hours.
Automatically divides your $10,000 portfolio equally across all 11 Bitcoin ETFs (~$909 per fund).
Built-in 1 order/second rate limiting ensures compliance with API requirements and prevents throttling.
Easily close all ETF positions with a single click. Handles both long and short positions automatically.
Track your net gain/loss and percentage returns with built-in performance calculations stored in global variables.
Configured for Alpaca Paper Trading by default. Test your Bitcoin ETF strategy risk-free before going live.
⚠️ Important: This flow is configured for Alpaca Paper Trading by default. Bitcoin ETF trading involves significant risk and price volatility. Always test thoroughly with paper trading before using real funds. You must configure your own Alpaca API credentials before executing trades.
💡 Note: Bitcoin ETFs trade during regular US stock market hours (9:30 AM - 4:00 PM ET, Monday-Friday). Unlike direct cryptocurrency trading, ETF orders use "day" time-in-force and cannot be executed outside market hours. The performance tracking section requires the global ordersPaper variable to be set up in your Global 1 utility tab.
Click the button below to copy the complete flow configuration to your clipboard:
[
{
"id": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"type": "tab",
"label": "Create Bitcoin ETF Portfolio",
"disabled": false,
"info": "",
"env": []
},
{
"id": "60380f8470540aa2",
"type": "comment",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "Please refer to the Flow Documentation detailed explanation of this flow.",
"info": "",
"x": 300,
"y": 100,
"wires": []
},
{
"id": "8e46465aa25cb62b",
"type": "comment",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "This strategy is ready to run in your paper account. Simply click the gray Inject nodes to activate.",
"info": "",
"x": 370,
"y": 40,
"wires": []
},
{
"id": "d5c6bf23bde30ffc",
"type": "pts_oauth_browser",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"callback": "",
"redirect": "https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kv76H1SjRWc16ORHTCnQbrY2B8EeVI3g1rz9z2EaYtk/edit?usp=sharing",
"name": "Documentation Link",
"x": 900,
"y": 100,
"wires": []
},
{
"id": "3bb9fd5d08c53902",
"type": "inject",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "Click Here to Open",
"props": [
{
"p": "redirect",
"v": "https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JrOxeQVfjAsRMMBDR6p9b-yRzCCs8m8frQoQvqwtjjw/edit",
"vt": "str"
}
],
"repeat": "",
"crontab": "",
"once": false,
"onceDelay": 0.1,
"topic": "",
"x": 690,
"y": 100,
"wires": [
[
"d5c6bf23bde30ffc"
]
]
},
{
"id": "18f7e54a7e7112ea",
"type": "comment",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "Set list of assets to buy",
"info": "",
"x": 140,
"y": 160,
"wires": []
},
{
"id": "2540ab28551655d4",
"type": "inject",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "Run once",
"props": [],
"repeat": "",
"crontab": "",
"once": false,
"onceDelay": 0.1,
"topic": "",
"x": 120,
"y": 200,
"wires": [
[
"743a032b73a75d4a"
]
]
},
{
"id": "743a032b73a75d4a",
"type": "function",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "Store strategy definition",
"func": "flow.set(\"tickers\", \"ARKB,BITB,IBIT,HODL,EZBC,BTCO,FBTC,BTCW,BRRR,DEFI,GBTC\")\nflow.set(\"portfolioSize\", 10000) // total size of portfolio = $10,000\nflow.set(\"number\", 10) // number of assets to buy\nreturn msg;\n",
"outputs": 1,
"timeout": "",
"noerr": 0,
"initialize": "",
"finalize": "",
"libs": [],
"x": 330,
"y": 200,
"wires": [
[]
]
},
{
"id": "d4706afec715342a",
"type": "function",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "create market orders",
"func": "\n//node.warn(msg.payload)\nmsg.ask = Number(msg.payload.ask_price)\nmsg.bid = Number(msg.payload.bid_price)\nif ( msg.ask > 0) { msg.price = msg.ask}\nelse { msg.price = msg.bid}\n\n//node.warn(\"Price: \" +msg.price)\nmsg.portfolio = Number(flow.get(\"portfolioSize\"))\nmsg.number = Number(flow.get(\"number\"))\n//node.warn(msg.portfolio+ \"--\" +msg.number)\n\nmsg.qty = Number(( msg.portfolio / msg.number / msg.price))\nmsg.qty = msg.qty.toFixed(2)\n\n\n// create a unique clientid with unixtime\nlet d = Date.now()\nlet ticker = msg.symbol.replace(\"/\",\"\")\nmsg.client_order_id = ticker + d\n\n\n\nmsg.payload = {\n \"symbol\": msg.symbol,\n \"qty\": msg.qty,\n \"side\": \"buy\",\n \"type\": 'market',\n // \"extended_time\": true,\n \"client_order_id\": msg.client_order_id,\n // \"limit_price\": msg.price,\n \"time_in_force\": \"day\"\n};\n\nnode.warn(msg.payload)\n\n\nreturn msg;\n",
"outputs": 1,
"timeout": "",
"noerr": 0,
"initialize": "",
"finalize": "",
"libs": [],
"x": 340,
"y": 360,
"wires": [
[
"1ea618545dae3923"
]
]
},
{
"id": "1ea618545dae3923",
"type": "alpaca-order",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"conf": "0ced618a3a2038f5",
"x": 550,
"y": 360,
"wires": [
[
"06a669e5baa39623"
]
]
},
{
"id": "06a669e5baa39623",
"type": "function",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "display error",
"func": "msg.message = msg.payload[\"message\"]\nmsg.code = msg.payload[\"code\"]\n\n\nif ( msg.message == undefined){\n //node.warn(\"no errors detected\") \n}\nelse {\n node.warn(\"Code: \" +msg.code+ \" Message: \" +msg.message) \n}\n\nreturn msg;",
"outputs": 1,
"timeout": 0,
"noerr": 0,
"initialize": "",
"finalize": "",
"libs": [],
"x": 730,
"y": 360,
"wires": [
[]
]
},
{
"id": "45fcca5e06b616c1",
"type": "comment",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "Execute Trades",
"info": "",
"x": 120,
"y": 260,
"wires": []
},
{
"id": "35c8b85ec5cf069b",
"type": "inject",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "Run Once",
"props": [],
"repeat": "",
"crontab": "",
"once": false,
"onceDelay": 0.1,
"topic": "",
"x": 120,
"y": 300,
"wires": [
[
"cb88f4249f2283c5"
]
]
},
{
"id": "cb88f4249f2283c5",
"type": "function",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "get symbols",
"func": "msg.payload = flow.get(\"tickers\")\nreturn msg;",
"outputs": 1,
"timeout": 0,
"noerr": 0,
"initialize": "",
"finalize": "",
"libs": [],
"x": 270,
"y": 300,
"wires": [
[
"8ea6a855395878ab"
]
]
},
{
"id": "8ea6a855395878ab",
"type": "split",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "",
"splt": ",",
"spltType": "str",
"arraySplt": 1,
"arraySpltType": "len",
"stream": false,
"addname": "",
"property": "payload",
"x": 410,
"y": 300,
"wires": [
[
"44f43c5b70cdad2b"
]
]
},
{
"id": "05e3d5ab519631d3",
"type": "alpaca-order",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"conf": "0ced618a3a2038f5",
"x": 570,
"y": 560,
"wires": [
[
"eb18118d63bb4232"
]
]
},
{
"id": "eb18118d63bb4232",
"type": "function",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "display error",
"func": "msg.message = msg.payload[\"message\"]\nmsg.code = msg.payload[\"code\"]\n\n\nif ( msg.message == undefined){\n //node.warn(\"no errors detected\") \n}\nelse {\n node.warn(\"Code: \" +msg.code+ \" Message: \" +msg.message) \n}\n\nreturn msg;",
"outputs": 1,
"timeout": 0,
"noerr": 0,
"initialize": "",
"finalize": "",
"libs": [],
"x": 730,
"y": 560,
"wires": [
[]
]
},
{
"id": "eef514d9d3452561",
"type": "comment",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "Liquidate Position",
"info": "",
"x": 130,
"y": 420,
"wires": []
},
{
"id": "0ad974f5d3b22f41",
"type": "inject",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "Run Once",
"props": [],
"repeat": "",
"crontab": "",
"once": false,
"onceDelay": 0.1,
"topic": "",
"x": 120,
"y": 480,
"wires": [
[
"fe55cbd8eab5f129"
]
]
},
{
"id": "fe55cbd8eab5f129",
"type": "function",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "get symbols",
"func": "msg.payload = flow.get(\"tickers\")\nreturn msg;",
"outputs": 1,
"timeout": 0,
"noerr": 0,
"initialize": "",
"finalize": "",
"libs": [],
"x": 270,
"y": 480,
"wires": [
[
"42f5c9134681a708"
]
]
},
{
"id": "42f5c9134681a708",
"type": "split",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "",
"splt": ",",
"spltType": "str",
"arraySplt": 1,
"arraySpltType": "len",
"stream": false,
"addname": "",
"property": "payload",
"x": 410,
"y": 480,
"wires": [
[
"c22880c35daab436"
]
]
},
{
"id": "e11a2b5f26cae036",
"type": "function",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "single msg.symbol",
"func": "flow.set(\"symbol\", msg.payload)\nmsg.crypto = msg.payload.replace(\"/\",\"\")\nmsg.symbol = msg.crypto\nnode.warn(msg.symbol)\nreturn msg;",
"outputs": 1,
"timeout": 0,
"noerr": 0,
"initialize": "",
"finalize": "",
"libs": [],
"x": 730,
"y": 480,
"wires": [
[
"cef2950308c65e78"
]
]
},
{
"id": "cef2950308c65e78",
"type": "alpaca-position-query",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"conf": "0ced618a3a2038f5",
"symbol": "",
"x": 950,
"y": 480,
"wires": [
[
"d39407a8fc9c90d5"
]
]
},
{
"id": "d39407a8fc9c90d5",
"type": "switch",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "",
"property": "payload",
"propertyType": "msg",
"rules": [
{
"t": "nempty"
},
{
"t": "empty"
}
],
"checkall": "true",
"repair": false,
"outputs": 2,
"x": 230,
"y": 580,
"wires": [
[
"2aaaa2247cabb76f"
],
[
"4bb2d9269c580cdd"
]
]
},
{
"id": "4bb2d9269c580cdd",
"type": "function",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "no position for symbol",
"func": "node.warn(\"no position\")\nreturn msg;",
"outputs": 1,
"timeout": 0,
"noerr": 0,
"initialize": "",
"finalize": "",
"libs": [],
"x": 400,
"y": 600,
"wires": [
[]
]
},
{
"id": "c22880c35daab436",
"type": "delay",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "",
"pauseType": "rate",
"timeout": "5",
"timeoutUnits": "seconds",
"rate": "1",
"nbRateUnits": "1",
"rateUnits": "second",
"randomFirst": "1",
"randomLast": "5",
"randomUnits": "seconds",
"drop": false,
"allowrate": false,
"outputs": 1,
"x": 550,
"y": 480,
"wires": [
[
"e11a2b5f26cae036"
]
]
},
{
"id": "e7f879074ae57173",
"type": "function",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "single msg.symbol",
"func": "msg.symbol = msg.payload\n//node.warn(msg.symbol)\n\nreturn msg;",
"outputs": 1,
"timeout": 0,
"noerr": 0,
"initialize": "",
"finalize": "",
"libs": [],
"x": 730,
"y": 300,
"wires": [
[
"1daf3c779c2a1ade"
]
]
},
{
"id": "44f43c5b70cdad2b",
"type": "delay",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "",
"pauseType": "rate",
"timeout": "5",
"timeoutUnits": "seconds",
"rate": "1",
"nbRateUnits": "1",
"rateUnits": "second",
"randomFirst": "1",
"randomLast": "5",
"randomUnits": "seconds",
"drop": false,
"allowrate": false,
"outputs": 1,
"x": 550,
"y": 300,
"wires": [
[
"e7f879074ae57173"
]
]
},
{
"id": "2aaaa2247cabb76f",
"type": "function",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "prepare trade",
"func": "msg.symbol = flow.get(\"symbol\")\n\nmsg.side = \"sell\"\n\nif ( msg.payload.side == 'short'){ \n msg.payload.qty = msg.payload.qty * -1\n msg.side = 'buy'}\n\n// posible liquidation filters\nmsg.payload.market_value\nmsg.payload.unrealized_plpc\nmsg.payload.qty_available\n\n// for limit trades\nmsg.payload.current_price\n\n let tradeOrders = {\n \"symbol\": msg.symbol,\n \"qty\": msg.payload.qty,\n \"side\": msg.side,\n \"type\": \"market\",\n // \"extended_hours\": true,\n // \"limit_price\": msg.current_price,\n \"time_in_force\": 'day'\n } // end tradeOrders\n node.warn(tradeOrders)\n msg.payload = tradeOrders\n return msg;\n",
"outputs": 1,
"timeout": 0,
"noerr": 0,
"initialize": "",
"finalize": "",
"libs": [],
"x": 380,
"y": 560,
"wires": [
[
"05e3d5ab519631d3"
]
]
},
{
"id": "1daf3c779c2a1ade",
"type": "alpaca-data-last-quote",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"conf": "0ced618a3a2038f5",
"symbol": "",
"name": "",
"x": 950,
"y": 300,
"wires": [
[
"d4706afec715342a"
]
]
},
{
"id": "eabe32b8aabd47b0",
"type": "comment",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "Calculate performance",
"info": "",
"x": 140,
"y": 700,
"wires": []
},
{
"id": "5069c10ad032320d",
"type": "function",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "calculate net trades in strategy",
"func": "// get all orders store in postgres table \"orders_paper\". This table is updated every 60 mins\n// in the Global 1 utility tab by default\n\nlet orders = global.get(\"ordersPaper\")\n//node.warn(orders)\n\n// first filter the orders array by the date the strategy started\nconst cutoff = new Date(\"2025-10-30T00:00:00Z\"); // Oct 30, 2025 UTC\n\nconst array1 = orders.filter(order => {\n if (!order.filled_at) return false;\n const filledDate = new Date(order.filled_at);\n return filledDate > cutoff;\n});\n//node.warn(array1);\n\n// then include only the tickers in the \nconst tickerString = flow.get(\"tickers\")\n// turn into array\nconst allowedTickers = tickerString.split(\",\");\n// filter orders\nconst array2 = array1.filter(order =>\n allowedTickers.includes(order.symbol)\n);\n\nnode.warn(array2);\n\n// then add a field for \"trades\" \nconst array3 = array2.map(order => {\n const { filled_qty, filled_avg_price, side } = order;\n\n // validate inputs\n// if (typeof filled_qty !== \"number\" || typeof filled_avg_price !== \"number\") {\n// return { ...order, trades: null };\n// }\n\n const multiplier = side === \"buy\" ? -1 : 1;\n const trades = filled_qty * filled_avg_price * multiplier;\n return { ...order, trades };\n});\n\n// sum all of the trades \n\n// assuming filteredOrders already has a \"trades\" field\nlet totalTrades = array3.reduce((sum, order) => {\n // guard against missing or invalid trades values\n if (typeof order.trades !== \"number\" || isNaN(order.trades)) {\n return sum;\n }\n return sum + order.trades;\n}, 0);\n\ntotalTrades = totalTrades.toFixed(2)\nlet pctTotalTrades = totalTrades / Number(flow.get(\"portfolioSize\")) * 100\npctTotalTrades = pctTotalTrades.toFixed(2)\n\nnode.warn(\"Net trades:\" +totalTrades+ \" Pct trades: \" +pctTotalTrades+ \"%\");\nflow.set(\"netTrades\", totalTrades)\n\n",
"outputs": 1,
"timeout": 0,
"noerr": 0,
"initialize": "",
"finalize": "",
"libs": [],
"x": 250,
"y": 760,
"wires": [
[]
]
},
{
"id": "c214e5c26dbe8f4a",
"type": "inject",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "",
"props": [
{
"p": "symbol",
"v": "OTMCall",
"vt": "flow"
}
],
"repeat": "",
"crontab": "",
"once": false,
"onceDelay": 0.1,
"topic": "",
"x": 85,
"y": 760,
"wires": [
[
"5069c10ad032320d"
]
],
"l": false
},
{
"id": "b073ecfd22496522",
"type": "comment",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "Requires global ordersPaper created in Global 1",
"info": "",
"x": 480,
"y": 700,
"wires": []
},
{
"id": "adec633682366826",
"type": "comment",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "If strategy includes current positions, add current market value of strategy to Net Trades",
"info": "",
"x": 340,
"y": 820,
"wires": []
},
{
"id": "ca6cc25823c1f854",
"type": "alpaca-position-query",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"conf": "0ced618a3a2038f5",
"symbol": "",
"x": 230,
"y": 880,
"wires": [
[
"44d4563c2475dbb8"
]
]
},
{
"id": "44d4563c2475dbb8",
"type": "function",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "get market value",
"func": "// include only the tickers in the flow var \"tickers\" \nlet tickerString = flow.get(\"tickers\")\n\n// split into array\nconst tickers = tickerString.split(\",\");\n// remove \"/\" from each symbol\nconst array1 = tickers.map(t => t.replace(/\\//g, \"\"));\n\n//node.warn(array1);\n\nlet positions = msg.payload\n//node.warn(positions)\n\n// Filter positions by symbols\nconst filteredPositions = positions.filter(pos =>\n array1.includes(pos.symbol)\n);\n\n//node.warn(filteredPositions);\n\n// Sum the market_value across filteredPositions\nlet totalMarketValue = filteredPositions.reduce((sum, pos) => {\n const value = parseFloat(pos.market_value);\n return isNaN(value) ? sum : sum + value;\n}, 0);\n\nlet market = totalMarketValue.toFixed(2)\nlet gainloss = Number(flow.get(\"netTrades\")) + totalMarketValue\nlet pctgainloss = gainloss / Number(flow.get(\"portfolioSize\")) * 100\ngainloss = gainloss.toFixed(2)\npctgainloss = pctgainloss.toFixed(2)\n\nnode.warn(\"Total Market Value: \" + market + \" Total Gain or Loss: \" + gainloss + \" Pct Gain or Loss: \" + pctgainloss+ \"%\");\nglobal.set(\"strategyBitcoinGainloss\", gainloss)\nglobal.set(\"strategyBitcoinGainlosspct\", pctgainloss)\n\n\nreturn msg;",
"outputs": 1,
"timeout": 0,
"noerr": 0,
"initialize": "",
"finalize": "",
"libs": [],
"x": 450,
"y": 880,
"wires": [
[]
]
},
{
"id": "763fedf5d5c81d4c",
"type": "inject",
"z": "3097de4ab03284c1",
"name": "Run Once",
"props": [],
"repeat": "",
"crontab": "*/1 4-19 * * 1,2,3,4,5",
"once": false,
"onceDelay": 0.1,
"topic": "",
"x": 85,
"y": 880,
"wires": [
[
"ca6cc25823c1f854"
]
],
"l": false
},
{
"id": "0ced618a3a2038f5",
"type": "alpaca-account",
"name": "Paper",
"keyId": "USE-OAUTH-OR-REPLACE",
"paper": true
}
]
You can easily customize this flow to fit your Bitcoin ETF investment goals:
Edit the "Store strategy definition" function node to change the portfolioSize value from $10,000 to any amount you prefer.
Update the tickers variable to include different Bitcoin ETFs or add other ETFs. Simply use the ticker symbols separated by commas (e.g., "IBIT,FBTC,ARKB"). Remember to update the number variable to match the number of ETFs.
Add cron expressions to the inject nodes to automatically rebalance your Bitcoin ETF portfolio at specific intervals during market hours.
When you're ready to trade with real money, configure a Live account in the alpaca-account configuration node and update the conf reference in each alpaca node.
