NIJA uses five official trading tiers optimized for different capital levels, experience, and trading goals. Each tier is precisely calibrated with appropriate risk parameters, position limits, and capital requirements.
Official Tiers (FINAL VERSION - Updated Jan 22, 2026):
System Authority:
Each tier has been carefully tuned to maximize performance while managing risk appropriately for the capital level.
| Parameter | SAVER/Starter | INVESTOR | INCOME | LIVABLE | BALLER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Range | $100–$249 | $250–$999 | $1k–$4.9k | $5k–$24.9k | $25k+ |
| Risk Per Trade | 7-10% | 5-7% | 3-5% | 2-3% | 1-2% |
| Trade Size | $15-$40 | $20-$75 | $30-$150 | $50-$300 | $100-$1k |
| Max Positions | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Trading Frequency | Moderate | Active | Very Active | Selective | Precision |
| Experience Level | Beginner | Intermediate | Active Trader | Serious User | Capital Deployer |
| Primary Goal | Learn & Preserve | Build Consistency | Serious Trading | Professional Execution | Capital Deployment |
| Exchange Support | All | All | All | All | All |
Default Tier: INVESTOR ($250–$999) - “Where NIJA starts to feel ‘real’”
“Capital preservation + learning”
✅ You have $100–$249 capital ✅ You are new to algorithmic trading ✅ You want to validate system execution before scaling ✅ You prioritize learning and preservation ✅ You understand this tier focuses on capital preservation
✅ PRESERVATION FOCUS: This tier emphasizes capital preservation while you learn the system.
✅ STARTER TIER: Perfect entry point for new algorithmic traders.
# Add to .env
TRADING_TIER=SAVER
Or use the preset template:
cp .env.saver_tier .env
# Edit .env and add your API credentials
“Consistent participation”
✅ You have $250–$999 capital ✅ You are learning systematic trading ✅ You want NIJA to feel ‘real’ without huge risk ✅ You can monitor positions once or twice daily ✅ You’re building trading consistency
✅ DEFAULT TIER: If you don’t specify a tier, you get INVESTOR.
📈 “NIJA Starts to Feel Real”: This is the minimum capital where NIJA’s performance becomes noticeable.
🎯 CONSISTENCY FOCUS: Build repeatable results, reduce random outcomes.
# Add to .env
TRADING_TIER=INVESTOR
# Or don't set it - INVESTOR is the default
Or use the preset template:
cp .env.investor_tier .env
# Edit .env and add your API credentials
“Serious retail trading”
✅ You have $1,000–$4,999 capital ✅ You are a serious retail trader ✅ You want active market engagement ✅ You can monitor positions regularly ✅ You want meaningful trading activity
⭐ SERIOUS RETAIL TIER: This is where serious retail algorithmic trading happens.
💰 MEANINGFUL ACTIVITY: Capital level designed for significant trading activity.
🎯 ACTIVE TRADING FOCUS: Perfect balance of capital, frequency, and position management.
# Add to .env
TRADING_TIER=INCOME
Or use the preset template:
cp .env.income_tier .env
# Edit .env and add your API credentials
“Professional-level execution”
✅ You have $5,000–$24,999 capital ✅ You are a professional-level trader ✅ You want precision execution ✅ You prioritize professional standards ✅ You understand advanced risk management
💼 PROFESSIONAL-LEVEL EXECUTION: This tier operates at professional standards.
🛡️ PRECISION FIRST: Professional execution prioritized over volume.
📊 ADVANCED APPROACH: Disciplined, selective, and systematic execution.
# Add to .env
TRADING_TIER=LIVABLE
Or use the preset template:
cp .env.livable_tier .env
# Edit .env and add your API credentials
“Capital deployment”
✅ You have $25,000+ capital ✅ You are deploying capital at scale ✅ You want institutional-grade execution ✅ You can manage large positions professionally ✅ You understand this is capital deployment
🏆 CAPITAL DEPLOYMENT: This tier is for scaling capital systematically.
💎 CAPITAL PRESERVATION: Protect large capital while generating consistent returns.
🎯 PRECISION-ONLY: Ultra-selective execution. Quality over quantity.
# Add to .env
TRADING_TIER=BALLER
Or use the preset template:
cp .env.baller_tier .env
# Edit .env and add your API credentials
Strategy governance and execution authority
🔐 SYSTEM AUTHORITY ONLY: MASTER is the strategy source and execution coordinator.
⚙️ GOVERNS PROFIT LOGIC: MASTER defines how profits are generated, not generates them itself.
🚫 NOT USER-SELECTABLE: Users choose from SAVER, INVESTOR, INCOME, LIVABLE, or BALLER.
Add to your .env file:
# Choose your tier:
TRADING_TIER=SAVER # For $100-$249 capital
TRADING_TIER=INVESTOR # For $250-$999 capital (default)
TRADING_TIER=INCOME # For $1k-$4.9k capital (serious retail trading)
TRADING_TIER=LIVABLE # For $5k-$24.9k capital
TRADING_TIER=BALLER # For $25k+ capital
Copy the appropriate template for your tier:
# SAVER tier ($100-$249)
cp .env.saver_tier .env
# INVESTOR tier ($250-$999)
cp .env.investor_tier .env
# INCOME tier ($1k-$4.9k) ⭐
cp .env.income_tier .env
# LIVABLE tier ($5k-$24.9k)
cp .env.livable_tier .env
# BALLER tier ($25k+)
cp .env.baller_tier .env
Then edit .env and add your exchange API credentials.
Set the tier to AUTO and it will automatically select based on your account balance:
TRADING_TIER=AUTO
ACCOUNT_BALANCE=500.00 # Your current balance
Auto-Selection Logic:
If you don’t set TRADING_TIER, the system defaults to INVESTOR tier.
Target Returns: 4-8% monthly Expected Win Rate: 55-65% Expected Drawdowns: 4-7% Trading Frequency: Moderate Monitoring Required: Daily check-ins Primary Focus: Capital preservation + learning
Target Returns: 5-10% monthly Expected Win Rate: 60-70% Expected Drawdowns: 4-6% Trading Frequency: Active (several trades weekly) Monitoring Required: Daily check-ins Primary Focus: Consistent participation
Target Returns: 6-12% monthly Expected Win Rate: 60-70% Expected Drawdowns: 4-7% Trading Frequency: Very active (daily trades) Monitoring Required: Multiple daily check-ins Primary Focus: Serious retail trading
Target Returns: 4-8% monthly Expected Win Rate: 65-75% Expected Drawdowns: 2-4% Trading Frequency: Selective (high-precision) Monitoring Required: Daily monitoring Primary Focus: Professional-level execution
Target Returns: 3-7% monthly Expected Win Rate: 70-80% Expected Drawdowns: 1-2% Trading Frequency: Precision-only (ultra-selective) Monitoring Required: Regular professional monitoring Primary Focus: Capital deployment
SAVER ($100–$249)
↓ [Learn system, preserve capital]
INVESTOR ($250–$999)
↓ [Build consistency, active participation]
INCOME ($1k–$4.9k) ⭐
↓ [Serious retail trading, scale activity]
LIVABLE ($5k–$24.9k)
↓ [Professional execution, precision focus]
BALLER ($25k+)
SAVER → INVESTOR
INVESTOR → INCOME
INCOME → LIVABLE
LIVABLE → BALLER
# Edit .env
TRADING_TIER=INCOME # Or whatever tier you're upgrading to
./start.sh
Consider downgrading if:
Downgrade Process:
.env
TRADING_TIER=INVESTOR # Or appropriate lower tier
All tiers include built-in circuit breakers for protection:
Never disable these manually - they exist to protect your capital.
❌ Using INCOME tier with <$250: Insufficient capital for diversification ❌ Using SAVER tier with >$500: Severe underutilization of capital ❌ Frequent tier switching: Inconsistent risk management, poor results ❌ Skipping tiers: Upgrading too fast leads to poor risk management
✅ Match tier to your capital: Use the tier appropriate for your balance ✅ Stay with tier for 30+ days: Build consistency before changing ✅ Only change based on capital or performance: Don’t change randomly ✅ Follow upgrade progression: Don’t skip tiers (SAVER → INVESTOR → INCOME → etc.)
| Tier | Minimum | Recommended | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAVER | $100 | $150-$249 | $200-$249 |
| INVESTOR | $250 | $400-$999 | $600-$999 |
| INCOME ⭐ | $1,000 | $2,000-$4,999 | $3,000-$4,999 |
| LIVABLE | $5,000 | $10,000-$24,999 | $15,000-$24,999 |
| BALLER | $25,000 | $50,000+ | $75,000+ |
Before going live with any tier:
LIVE_MODE=false
TRADING_TIER=INVESTOR # Or your chosen tier
For new users, we recommend this progression:
Don’t rush tier upgrades - Build consistency first.
Daily:
Weekly:
Monthly:
🚨 Consider downgrading if:
✅ Consider upgrading if:
For advanced users who understand the implications:
# In your configuration or startup script
import os
os.environ['TRADING_TIER'] = 'INCOME'
# Override specific parameters (ADVANCED ONLY)
# This is not recommended unless you fully understand risk management
from bot.apex_config import TIER_CONFIG
TIER_CONFIG['income']['max_positions'] = 4 # Override max positions
TIER_CONFIG['income']['risk_per_trade'] = 0.05 # Override risk
⚠️ Warning: Only override tier parameters if you:
Different exchanges have different fee structures:
Kraken (Low fees 0.16%-0.26%): Use standard tier parameters Coinbase (Higher fees 0.4%-0.6%): Consider reducing position sizes by 20% OKX (Very low fees 0.08%-0.10%): Can be slightly more aggressive
For high-fee exchanges like Coinbase:
TRADING_TIER=INCOME
# Reduce position sizes for fee management
MIN_TRADE_PERCENT=0.03 # Reduce from default
MAX_TRADE_PERCENT=0.06 # Reduce from default
Each tier can be customized in bot/apex_config.py:
TIER_CONFIG = {
'saver': {...},
'investor': {...},
'income': {...},
'livable': {...},
'baller': {...}
}
See configuration file for complete tier specifications.
Begin with SAVER or INVESTOR tier even if you have capital for higher tiers. Validate the system before increasing risk.
Use the tier appropriate for your account balance. Don’t use BALLER parameters with $500.
Circuit breakers, position limits, and tier controls exist for protection. Never disable them.
Even with automatic risk management, review positions and performance metrics regularly.
If the system stops trading due to losses or limits, don’t immediately restart. Review logs and understand what went wrong.
When upgrading tiers, start conservatively and monitor performance closely for 2-4 weeks.
Keep a log of tier changes and why you made them. Review periodically.
Don’t skip tiers. Progress through SAVER → INVESTOR → INCOME → LIVABLE → BALLER systematically.
Start with official .env.{tier}_tier templates rather than building from scratch.
Test any tier change in paper trading mode before going live.
Q: Which tier should I start with? A: Start with INVESTOR tier ($250-$999) if you have the capital. If not, start with SAVER ($100-$249) to validate the system.
Q: Can I use BALLER tier with $5,000? A: No. BALLER tier requires $25,000+ for proper diversification and position management. Use LIVABLE tier for $5k-$24.9k.
Q: What’s the difference between INCOME and LIVABLE tiers? A: INCOME is for serious retail trading with very active participation. LIVABLE is for professional-level execution with precision focus.
Q: Is MASTER a user tier? A: No. MASTER is system authority for strategy governance and execution coordination. Users choose from SAVER, INVESTOR, INCOME, LIVABLE, or BALLER.
Q: Can I switch tiers mid-day? A: Yes, but it only affects new positions. Existing positions follow their original tier parameters.
Q: Which tier is safest? A: SAVER is the most conservative with capital preservation focus. INVESTOR is the default for consistent participation.
Q: What tier is best for serious retail trading? A: INCOME tier ($1k-$4.9k) is specifically designed for serious retail trading with very active market participation.
Q: Can I create a custom tier?
A: Advanced users can modify bot/apex_config.py, but we strongly recommend using built-in tiers first and proving profitability before customizing.
Q: Do tiers affect copy trading? A: Yes - follower accounts use their own tiers, so positions are scaled appropriately to each account’s balance and tier.
Q: What if I have $10,000 but I’m a beginner? A: Start with INVESTOR tier despite higher capital. Build experience and consistency, then upgrade to LIVABLE tier after proving profitability.
Q: How long should I stay in each tier before upgrading? A: Minimum 30 days to build consistency. Ideally 60-90 days to prove profitability before upgrading.
Q: What happens if my balance drops below my tier’s minimum? A: The system will warn you. Consider downgrading to the appropriate tier for your new balance to maintain proper risk management.
Issue: “Tier not recognized”
Solution: Check spelling in .env - must be exactly SAVER, INVESTOR, INCOME, LIVABLE, or BALLER
Issue: “Insufficient capital for tier” Solution: Your balance is below the tier minimum. Downgrade or deposit more capital.
Issue: “No trades executing” Solution: Check if you’re in SAVER tier (very low frequency) or if circuit breakers are active.
Issue: “Position sizes too small” Solution: You may be in SAVER tier with limited capital. Upgrade when appropriate.
# Check environment variable
echo $TRADING_TIER
# Check bot logs
tail -f logs/nija_apex.log | grep "tier"
# Verify in Python
python3 -c "import os; print(os.getenv('TRADING_TIER', 'INVESTOR (default)'))"
logs/nija_apex.log.env fileLIVE_MODE=falseBefore choosing your tier, answer these questions:
If you answered all questions confidently, proceed with your tier selection.
If you’re uncertain, start with INVESTOR tier (default) and upgrade later.
Version: 2.0 Last Updated: January 2025 Status: ✅ Production Ready Official Tiers: SAVER, INVESTOR, INCOME, LIVABLE, BALLER System Authority: MASTER (not user-selectable)