Is My API Key Safe on Flicker?
How Flicker's read-only API keys work, what we can and can't do with them, and why connecting an exchange account can't put your funds at risk.
Short answer: yes. Flicker only ever asks for read-only API keys, and read-only keys are physically incapable of moving your money.
What "read-only" means
Every exchange lets you scope an API key to specific permissions when you create it. Flicker's setup guides walk you through enabling exactly one: Reading. Trading, margin, futures, and withdrawal permissions stay switched off — you never enable them, and Flicker never asks you to.
An exchange enforces that scope on its own servers, not Flicker's. Even if a read-only key were somehow leaked, whoever had it could only look at your account — they couldn't place an order or withdraw a single dollar.
What Flicker can see
With a connected account, Flicker can read:
- Balances and portfolio value
- Open positions and order history
- Trade history
- Which exchanges you've connected
That's it. Nothing beyond what the "Reading" permission exposes on the exchange's own API.
What Flicker can never do
- Place, modify, or cancel a trade
- Deposit or withdraw funds
- Change your exchange account settings or password
- Access funds outside of what a read-only key can see
This isn't a policy promise — it's enforced by the exchange, since a key without trading or withdrawal permission simply can't authorize those actions.
How your keys are stored
API keys and secrets are encrypted at rest and only used to make read requests to the exchange's API on your behalf. You can revoke a key at any time — from Flicker or directly on the exchange — and access stops immediately.
Still not sure?
You can verify this yourself in under a minute: open your exchange's API management page after connecting to Flicker and check which permissions are enabled on the key. If "Trading" or "Withdrawals" show as off, that's the whole story.
Need Help?
- See our exchange-specific guides for Binance, OKX, and BloFin
- Or contact Flicker support
Related Guides
What's the Difference Between Flicker Free and Pro?
Flicker's free tier covers signals, alerts, and portfolio tracking with no card required. Here's exactly what Pro adds on top.
How Do Flicker's Buy/Hold/Sell Trading Signals Work?
What Flicker's Buy, Hold, and Sell signal actually measures, how it's calculated, and how to read it alongside your own research.
How Do Price Alerts Work on Flicker?
Set a price target, a breakout, or a smart-money alert on any asset and get an instant push notification the moment it triggers.