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NexusTrade guide

Build and backtest BTC trend pullback

Buy an RSI pullback within a 200-day uptrend; exit on RSI recovery or a trend break.

As of 2026-10-10

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TL;DR

The BTC trend-pullback rule lost 6.43% in 2024 with reported maximum drawdown of 20.62%, while the plotted BTC holding comparison gained 119.27%. It buys RSI weakness only above the 200 day average, then exits on RSI recovery or a trend break. The test used $10,000, 95% entry allocation and 0.7% per-fill crypto fees. Keep the original result when changing one rule or testing later dates.

Completed 2024 backtest

BTC trend pullback: completed 2024 backtest with SPY and BTC buy and hold25.3K8.5K2024-01-012024-12-31
BTC trend pullback 2024-12-31, 21:00:00 UTC
9,357.49
SPY buy and hold 2024-12-31, 21:00:00 UTC
12,530.29
BTC buy and hold 2024-12-31, 21:00:00 UTC
21,926.92
BTC trend pullbackSPY buy and holdBTC buy and holdHistorical simulation
Show the table · 11 rows, 2 columns

Scroll sideways to compare all columns. Select a heading to sort.

StatusCOMPLETE
Backtest return-6.43%
Reported maximum drawdown20.62%
SPY buy-and-hold return25.30%
BTC buy-and-hold return119.27%
Total recorded trading fees$2011.18
Engine closed-trade count31
Starting capital$10000.00
Ending portfolio value$9357.49
Ending cash$438.95
Ending position value$8918.53

This saved algorithm completed a Day backtest from 2024-01-01 through 2024-12-31, with $10000.00 starting capital. The chart includes all 744 exported history points.

Compare the strategy with SPY and BTC buy and hold. Each benchmark invests the full $10000.00 starting balance over the same 2024 period. SPY follows its trading sessions; BTC includes weekends. This algorithm follows its own allocation and entry/exit rules, with 0.7% of traded notional charged on each fill. Explore cash and position values to see how capital was deployed.

Follow the example

Step 1 of 3

Read this pair's entry and exit

Read this pair’s entry condition, purchase amount and exit in the saved rules below.

Entry
Saved rule: Price > SMA(200, Day) AND RSI(14, Day) < 40 AND position value = 0
Exit
Saved rule: RSI(14, Day) >= 60 OR Price <= SMA(200, Day) AND position value > 0
Allocation
Saved rule: 95% of buying power per entry; sell 100% of held units on exit
Pair
Saved rule: BTC-USD
What you should see

The plain-language purpose matches the saved rules below. Keep the rule, purchase size and exit together when creating your version.

BTC trend pullback: completed 2024 backtest with SPY and BTC buy and hold25.3K8.5K2024-01-012024-12-31
BTC trend pullback 2024-12-31, 21:00:00 UTC
9,357.49
SPY buy and hold 2024-12-31, 21:00:00 UTC
12,530.29
BTC buy and hold 2024-12-31, 21:00:00 UTC
21,926.92
BTC trend pullbackSPY buy and holdBTC buy and holdHistorical simulation
Completed 2024 historical simulation. The plotted observations and comparison series are preserved.
Step 2 of 3

Completed 2024 backtest

Explore the completed 2024 simulation shown near the top. Compare its recorded return and drawdown with the plotted benchmarks, then follow the captured fills. The original history, fees and execution assumptions remain available.

What you should see

The exact stored history shown here, with its source's period, comparisons and limits. Opening the walkthrough does not rerun it.

Preview this strategy in Aurora: authored process map
Authored task map. It describes what to inspect; it is not an account screenshot or a measured result.
Step 3 of 3

Preview this strategy in Aurora

Review the provided strategy request without changing its pair or sizing. Ask for a draft preview before any saved candidate or paid test.

What you should see

An inspectable candidate. New dates or a changed rule define another experiment, not the published result.

Choose a step to follow the example. Opening a request lets you review it; it does not submit a job or change your account.

Inspect the recorded trades

  1. Jan 12, 2024

    Pair

    BTC-USD

    Side

    Buy

    Units (rounded)

    0.21733969

    Submitted price

    $43710.38

    Filled price

    $43710.38

    Fee

    $66.50

  2. Jan 26, 2024

    Pair

    BTC-USD

    Side

    Sell

    Units (rounded)

    0.21581831

    Submitted price

    $41979.10

    Filled price

    $41979.10

    Fee

    $63.42

  3. Jan 27, 2024

    Pair

    BTC-USD

    Side

    Sell

    Units (rounded)

    0.00152138

    Submitted price

    $41771.50

    Filled price

    $41771.50

    Fee

    $0.44

  4. Mar 15, 2024

    Pair

    BTC-USD

    Side

    Buy

    Units (rounded)

    0.13372004

    Submitted price

    $67442.34

    Filled price

    $67442.34

    Fee

    $63.13

  5. Mar 25, 2024

    Pair

    BTC-USD

    Side

    Sell

    Units (rounded)

    0.13278400

    Submitted price

    $71160.50

    Filled price

    $71160.50

    Fee

    $66.14

  6. Mar 26, 2024

    Pair

    BTC-USD

    Side

    Sell

    Units (rounded)

    0.00093604

    Submitted price

    $70730.99

    Filled price

    $70730.99

    Fee

    $0.46

  7. Apr 02, 2024

    Pair

    BTC-USD

    Side

    Buy

    Units (rounded)

    0.14444388

    Submitted price

    $64849.37

    Filled price

    $64849.37

    Fee

    $65.57

  8. Apr 07, 2024

    Pair

    BTC-USD

    Side

    Sell

    Units (rounded)

    0.14343278

    Submitted price

    $69402.56

    Filled price

    $69402.56

    Fee

    $69.68

Recorded rows in source order; spacing does not represent elapsed time.

Show the table · 8 rows, 7 columns

Scroll sideways to compare all columns. Select a heading to sort.

Jan 12, 2024BTC-USDBuy0.21733969$43710.38$43710.38$66.50
Jan 26, 2024BTC-USDSell0.21581831$41979.10$41979.10$63.42
Jan 27, 2024BTC-USDSell0.00152138$41771.50$41771.50$0.44
Mar 15, 2024BTC-USDBuy0.13372004$67442.34$67442.34$63.13
Mar 25, 2024BTC-USDSell0.13278400$71160.50$71160.50$66.14
Mar 26, 2024BTC-USDSell0.00093604$70730.99$70730.99$0.46
Apr 02, 2024BTC-USDBuy0.14444388$64849.37$64849.37$65.57
Apr 07, 2024BTC-USDSell0.14343278$69402.56$69402.56$69.68

Follow the Filled events by pair, side and time. Compare the submitted price, filled price, fractional quantity and fee. This table shows up to eight orders from the captured excerpt (47 Filled events).

For a percentage fee, multiply the traded notional by 0.007. To follow a position, start with a purchase and inspect subsequent sale quantities, remaining holdings and cash flows. For the weekly accumulation example, follow each purchase and the resulting position value.

The algorithm

  1. Entry

    Price > SMA(200, Day) AND RSI(14, Day) < 40 AND position value = 0

  2. Exit

    RSI(14, Day) >= 60 OR Price <= SMA(200, Day) AND position value > 0

  3. Allocation

    95% of buying power per entry; sell 100% of held units on exit

  4. Pair

    BTC-USD

  5. Execution

    Market; fractional units enabled

  6. Starting capital

    $10,000; no additional deposits

Show the table · 6 rows, 2 columns
DecisionSaved rule
EntryPrice > SMA(200, Day) AND RSI(14, Day) < 40 AND position value = 0
ExitRSI(14, Day) >= 60 OR Price <= SMA(200, Day) AND position value > 0
Allocation95% of buying power per entry; sell 100% of held units on exit
PairBTC-USD
ExecutionMarket; fractional units enabled
Starting capital$10,000; no additional deposits

This example trades BTC-USD as a spot Cryptocurrency asset. The saved rules were read back and verified with automated trading off.

Create the same strategy

Ask Aurora to build the rules above, review the preview, then save the draft with automated trading off. Confirm the Cryptocurrency pair, allocation and entry and exit conditions in the saved rules.

In the native Strategies editor, use Buy and Sell actions with the same Cryptocurrency pair. Add the indicator and position-value conditions shown above. The weekly accumulation example uses a single Buy rule with a seven-day DaysSinceOrder condition.

Plan a separate variant and later test

Review the optional next experiment

After reviewing the recorded example, use the prepared request above for the original rules. This optional plan covers a separate variant and a later test.

  1. Create one variant, then test unseen dates

    Ask: "Change only the entry allocation from 95% to 75% of buying power. Show the rule diff and compare both candidates on the 2024 development period with every other setting fixed." After choosing, freeze the rules and select another test period you have not inspected. The displayed 2024 results already make 2024 a viewed development period. Keep any later revisions in a new research cycle.

Create and backtest with Python

Use the Python SDK instead of Aurora

Python SDK 1.42.0. Save the runner below as run_btc_trend_pullback.py.

Install and download

Shell
python3 -m pip install nexustrade==1.42.0
export NEXUSTRADE_API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY"
curl --fail --output btc_trend_pullback.py https://nexustrade.io/seo/strategy-examples/btc-trend-pullback.py

Create, test and inspect

Python
from btc_trend_pullback import create_btc_trend_pullback, backtest_btc_trend_pullback

book = create_btc_trend_pullback()
completed = backtest_btc_trend_pullback()
print(completed["result"])

Run

Shell
python3 run_btc_trend_pullback.py

Python strategy and backtest functions

View complete Python SDK functions

The backtest function submits the 2024 test with SPY as its benchmark, records events and waits for the result. Use a new request key when changing rules, dates or fees.

Python
import nexustrade as nt


def create_btc_trend_pullback():
    asset = nt.crypto_asset("BTC-USD")
    return nt.portfolio(
        "Public SEO crypto example - BTC trend pullback",
        [
            nt.strategy(
                "Enter BTC trend pullback",
                (((nt.Price(asset) > nt.SMA(asset, 200, "Day")) & (nt.RSI(asset, 14, "Day") < nt.Value(40))) & (nt.PositionValue(asset) == nt.Value(0))),
                nt.buy(asset, 95, "percent of buying power")
            ),
            nt.strategy(
                "Exit BTC trend pullback",
                (((nt.RSI(asset, 14, "Day") >= nt.Value(60)) | (nt.Price(asset) <= nt.SMA(asset, 200, "Day"))) & (nt.PositionValue(asset) > nt.Value(0))),
                nt.sell(asset, 100, "percent of current positions")
            ),
        ],
        initial_value=10000,
        supports_crypto=True,
        supports_fractional_shares=True,
        alerts_enabled=False,
        dividend_policy='cash',
    )


def backtest_btc_trend_pullback(client=None):
    client = client or nt.NexusTradeClient.from_environment()
    operation = client.create_backtest(
        nt.backtest(
            create_btc_trend_pullback(),
            start_date="2024-01-01", end_date="2024-12-31",
            interval="Day", baseline_symbol="SPY",
            initial_value=10000, generate_events=True,
            dividend_policy="cash",
            fee_config={"Stock": {"type": "percent", "amount": 0.1},
                        "Cryptocurrency": {"type": "percent", "amount": 0.7},
                        "Option": {"type": "dollars", "amount": 0.65}},
        ),
        idempotency_key="explore-btc-trend-pullback-2024-spy-v1",
    )
    return client.wait_for_backtest(operation["id"])


# Build locally: book = create_btc_trend_pullback()
# Run and inspect: completed = backtest_btc_trend_pullback(); print(completed["result"])

Create and backtest with TypeScript

Use the TypeScript SDK instead of Aurora

TypeScript SDK 1.42.0. Save the runner below as run-btc-trend-pullback.ts.

Install and download

Shell
npm install nexustrade@1.42.0
npm install --save-dev tsx
export NEXUSTRADE_API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY"
curl --fail --output btc-trend-pullback.ts https://nexustrade.io/seo/strategy-examples/btc-trend-pullback.ts

Create, test and inspect

TypeScript
import { createBtcTrendPullback, backtestBtcTrendPullback } from "./btc-trend-pullback";

async function main() {
  const book = createBtcTrendPullback();
  const completed = await backtestBtcTrendPullback();
  console.log(completed.result);
}

main().catch((error: unknown) => {
  console.error(error);
  process.exitCode = 1;
});

Run

Shell
npx tsx run-btc-trend-pullback.ts

TypeScript strategy and backtest functions

View complete TypeScript SDK functions

The same rules, dates and fees are used in both SDKs. The backtest function keeps its request key across retries.

TypeScript
import * as nt from "nexustrade";

export function createBtcTrendPullback() {
  const asset = nt.cryptoAsset("BTC-USD");
  return nt.portfolio(
    "Public SEO crypto example - BTC trend pullback",
    [
      nt.strategy(
          "Enter BTC trend pullback",
          nt.and(
              nt.and(
                  nt.gt(nt.Price(asset), nt.SMA(asset, 200, "Day")),
                  nt.lt(nt.RSI(asset, 14, "Day"), nt.Value(40))
              ),
              nt.eq(nt.PositionValue(asset), nt.Value(0))
          ),
          nt.buy(asset, 95, "percent of buying power")
      ),
      nt.strategy(
          "Exit BTC trend pullback",
          nt.and(
              nt.or(
                  nt.gte(nt.RSI(asset, 14, "Day"), nt.Value(60)),
                  nt.lte(nt.Price(asset), nt.SMA(asset, 200, "Day"))
              ),
              nt.gt(nt.PositionValue(asset), nt.Value(0))
          ),
          nt.sell(asset, 100, "percent of current positions")
      ),
    ],
    { initialValue: 10000, supportsCrypto: true, supportsFractionalShares: true, alertsEnabled: false, dividendPolicy: "cash" }
  );
}

export async function backtestBtcTrendPullback(client = new nt.NexusTradeClient()) {
  const operation = await client.createBacktest(
    nt.backtest(createBtcTrendPullback(), {
      startDate: "2024-01-01", endDate: "2024-12-31",
      interval: "Day", baselineSymbol: "SPY",
      initialValue: 10000, generateEvents: true,
      dividendPolicy: "cash",
      feeConfig: {
        Stock: { type: "percent", amount: 0.1 },
        Cryptocurrency: { type: "percent", amount: 0.7 },
        Option: { type: "dollars", amount: 0.65 },
      },
    }),
    { idempotencyKey: "explore-btc-trend-pullback-2024-spy-v1" }
  );
  if (typeof operation.id !== "string") throw new Error("Missing backtest ID");
  return client.waitForBacktest(operation.id);
}

// Build locally: const book = createBtcTrendPullback();
// Run and inspect: const completed = await backtestBtcTrendPullback(); console.log(completed.result);

Understand this entry with Aurora

  1. BTC-USD price > BTC-USD 200 day SMA

    Left value100,844.8672>Right value69,711.9228ResultTrue
  2. BTC-USD 14 day RSI < constant

    Left value39.8636<Right value40ResultTrue
  3. BTC-USD position value = constant

    Left value0=Right value0ResultTrue
Show the table · 3 rows, 5 columns

Scroll sideways to compare all columns. Select a heading to sort.

BTC-USD price > BTC-USD 200 day SMA100,844.8672>69,711.9228True
BTC-USD 14 day RSI < constant39.8636<40True
BTC-USD position value = constant0=0True

At 2024-12-18T21:00:00.000Z, the recorded rule was: BTC-USD last price > 200 Day BTC-USD SMA and 14 Day BTC-USD RSI < Constant 40 and Position market value (BTC-USD) = Constant 0. Its overall result was true. Read the individual comparisons below, then ask Aurora to explain how they led to the action.

The signal requested 95 percent of buying power at a submitted price of 100,844.8672. 1 captured Filled order shares this timestamp; Aurora receives those fields with the signal.

Inspect the original signal record

View captured signal JSON
JSON
{
  "eventType": "BuySignal",
  "event": {
    "eventType": "BuySignal",
    "timestamp": "2024-12-18T21:00:00.000Z",
    "signals": [
      {
        "conditionName": "BTC-USD last price > 200 Day BTC-USD SMA and 14 Day BTC-USD RSI < Constant 40 and Position market value (BTC-USD) = Constant 0",
        "audit": {
          "type": "minimal",
          "results": {
            "0.0.1": {
              "isTrue": true,
              "lhsValue": 39.86359799892766,
              "rhsValue": 40,
              "lhsError": null,
              "rhsError": null,
              "comparison": "lessThan"
            },
            "0.0.0": {
              "isTrue": true,
              "lhsValue": 100844.8671875,
              "rhsValue": 69711.92284665516,
              "lhsError": null,
              "rhsError": null,
              "comparison": "greaterThan"
            },
            "0.1": {
              "isTrue": true,
              "lhsValue": 0,
              "rhsValue": 0,
              "lhsError": null,
              "rhsError": null,
              "comparison": "equal"
            }
          },
          "failuresOnly": false
        },
        "isTrue": true,
        "actionName": "Buy",
        "actionMetadata": {
          "buyOrSell": {
            "targetAsset": {
              "name": "BTC-USD",
              "symbol": "BTC-USD",
              "type": "Cryptocurrency",
              "underlyingSymbol": null,
              "optionType": null,
              "expirationDate": null,
              "strikePrice": null,
              "multiplier": null
            },
            "allocation": {
              "type": "percent of buying power",
              "amount": 95
            },
            "price": 100844.8671875,
            "orderType": "Market Order"
          }
        },
        "orderExecution": {
          "type": "Market"
        }
      }
    ]
  },
  "timestamp": 1734555600000
}

Explore a drawdown period

Scale: 0 to 10.51K USD · zero baseline

Portfolio value

  • 2024-06-13T13:30:00.000Z$10511.34
  • 2024-10-23T20:00:00.000Z$8482.89

Scale: 0 to 453.37 USD · zero baseline

Cash

  • 2024-06-13T13:30:00.000Z$453.37
  • 2024-10-23T20:00:00.000Z$370.19

Scale: 0 to 10.06K USD · zero baseline

Position value

  • 2024-06-13T13:30:00.000Z$10057.97
  • 2024-10-23T20:00:00.000Z$8112.69
Show the table · 2 rows, 4 columns

Scroll sideways to compare all columns. Select a heading to sort.

2024-06-13T13:30:00.000Z$10511.34$453.37$10057.97
2024-10-23T20:00:00.000Z$8482.89$370.19$8112.69

Follow the decline from Jun 13, 2024 to Oct 23, 2024. The table retains the recorded portfolio, cash and position values. The engine reported maximum drawdown of 20.62%.

Test another version

Change one rule or choose a different date range, then compare the resulting curve and trade events with this saved experiment. Explore which trades, fees and periods explain the difference.

Exact captured fill fields

  1. 2024-01-12T21:00:00.000Z

    Pair

    BTC-USD

    Side

    Buy

    Units

    0.21733968539544338

    Submitted price

    $43710.38

    Filled price

    $43710.38

    Fee

    $66.50

  2. 2024-01-26T21:00:00.000Z

    Pair

    BTC-USD

    Side

    Sell

    Units

    0.21581830759767529

    Submitted price

    $41979.10

    Filled price

    $41979.10

    Fee

    $63.42

  3. 2024-01-27T14:30:00.000Z

    Pair

    BTC-USD

    Side

    Sell

    Units

    0.001521377797768092

    Submitted price

    $41771.50

    Filled price

    $41771.50

    Fee

    $0.44

  4. 2024-03-15T13:30:00.000Z

    Pair

    BTC-USD

    Side

    Buy

    Units

    0.1337200380577867

    Submitted price

    $67442.34

    Filled price

    $67442.34

    Fee

    $63.13

  5. 2024-03-25T20:00:00.000Z

    Pair

    BTC-USD

    Side

    Sell

    Units

    0.1327839977913822

    Submitted price

    $71160.50

    Filled price

    $71160.50

    Fee

    $66.14

  6. 2024-03-26T13:30:00.000Z

    Pair

    BTC-USD

    Side

    Sell

    Units

    0.0009360402664045087

    Submitted price

    $70730.99

    Filled price

    $70730.99

    Fee

    $0.46

  7. 2024-04-02T13:30:00.000Z

    Pair

    BTC-USD

    Side

    Buy

    Units

    0.14444388277913411

    Submitted price

    $64849.37

    Filled price

    $64849.37

    Fee

    $65.57

  8. 2024-04-07T13:30:00.000Z

    Pair

    BTC-USD

    Side

    Sell

    Units

    0.14343277559968018

    Submitted price

    $69402.56

    Filled price

    $69402.56

    Fee

    $69.68

Recorded rows in source order; spacing does not represent elapsed time.

Inspect full UTC times and exact fractional quantities

Scroll sideways to compare all columns. Select a heading to sort.

2024-01-12T21:00:00.000ZBTC-USDBuy0.21733968539544338$43710.38$43710.38$66.50
2024-01-26T21:00:00.000ZBTC-USDSell0.21581830759767529$41979.10$41979.10$63.42
2024-01-27T14:30:00.000ZBTC-USDSell0.001521377797768092$41771.50$41771.50$0.44
2024-03-15T13:30:00.000ZBTC-USDBuy0.1337200380577867$67442.34$67442.34$63.13
2024-03-25T20:00:00.000ZBTC-USDSell0.1327839977913822$71160.50$71160.50$66.14
2024-03-26T13:30:00.000ZBTC-USDSell0.0009360402664045087$70730.99$70730.99$0.46
2024-04-02T13:30:00.000ZBTC-USDBuy0.14444388277913411$64849.37$64849.37$65.57
2024-04-07T13:30:00.000ZBTC-USDSell0.14343277559968018$69402.56$69402.56$69.68

Exact drawdown measurement

Read the exact snapshot timestamps and measurement comparison

The largest decline between exported snapshots was 19.30%, from $10511.34 at 2024-06-13T13:30:00.000Z to $8482.89 at 2024-10-23T20:00:00.000Z. The reported maximum drawdown is 20.62%. Explore the trades and holdings around those dates.

Continue exploring

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Aurora · AI research assistant

Try this in Aurora

Edit the request, then open it in Aurora. You choose when to send it.