When using grid trading, the core difference between AI strategy and manual range is not which yields higher returns, but how you plan to judge the market. The AI strategy saves you effort: the system recommends a set of parameters based on 7-day historical data backtesting. The manual range gives you control: you determine the price range and grid density based on your own support and resistance levels, allowing you to match your strategy judgment more precisely.
OKX officially defines AI strategy as "based on historical market backtesting, intelligently recommends parameters; simply enter the investment amount to create with one click." Manual creation requires you to "fill in the price oscillation range and number of grids based on your own judgment and specific situation."
Step 1: Determine which mode better matches the current market condition
The core of grid strategy is "oscillation arbitrage," so deciding whether the market is ranging or trending is the prerequisite for choosing a mode.
Case A: AI Smart Creation – Suitable for ranging markets, beginner-friendly
The parameter logic of AI strategy is "backtest 7-day market data and combine intelligent algorithms to recommend parameters suitable for recent market conditions." OKX recommends a ready-made price range and grid count from short-term, medium-term, and long-term options.
Suitable scenarios:
The market is in a clear ranging phase with stable volatility amplitude;
You don't want to spend time on technical analysis and just want to start with one click;
The trading asset has sufficient liquidity (such as major coins like BTC, ETH).
Case B: Manual Creation – Suitable for clear judgment and precise range control
Manual creation lets you fill in "range lowest price, highest price, number of grids" yourself, and you can also choose arithmetic or geometric grid mode.
Arithmetic vs Geometric Difference:
Arithmetic grid: Each grid has a fixed price gap, suitable for narrow ranges and uniform oscillation.
Geometric grid: Price gaps increase by a fixed ratio, suitable for wider ranges or upward trending oscillations.
Suitable scenarios:
You have a clear judgment on current support and resistance levels;
You want to adjust grid density based on different market conditions, rather than relying on system backtesting;
Your capital amount has profit requirements per grid, and you want to control trading frequency to save on fees.
Common failure reason: Some people think the AI parameters will adjust themselves, but the AI recommended range is fixed and does not move when price breaks out. If the market moves out of the AI recommended range, the grid will pause trading until price returns to the range. If you do not want to take the risk of "breaking the grid," manual range setting is higher priority — you can set a wider range based on your own judgment.
Step 2: Adjust grid density based on capital and risk tolerance
The grid density of AI strategy is recommended by the system, and you cannot manually adjust the number of grids at creation unless you switch to manual mode to fine-tune parameters.
Manual mode offers greater fine-tuning control:
| Control Dimension | AI Strategy | Manual Range |
|---|---|---|
| Grid Count | System fixed recommendation | Customizable (2-500 grids) |
| Price Range | System backtest recommendation | Set based on support/resistance levels |
| Investment Amount | Can be entered | Can be entered |
| Arithmetic/Geometric | System recommended | Can be chosen |
| Stop Loss/Take Profit | Can be set at creation | Can be set at creation |
Key calculation logic: The denser the grid, the more pending orders can be filled, but fees will also increase due to frequent trading, affecting profits. In manual mode, you can judge based on your capital whether you can bear the fee cost of high-frequency trading.
Risk reminder: The range recommended by AI strategy is based on historical data backtesting and does not guarantee that prices will not break through it in the future. In spot grid mode, if the price falls below the range's lowest price, the program will not continue to operate, and the held spot will suffer floating losses. In contract grid mode, price moving out of the range may also face liquidation risk. Regardless of AI or manual, it is recommended to set stop-loss prices above and below the grid.
Verification after setting up
After creating the grid, go to the [Strategy] → [Spot Grid/Contract Grid] page to check the following:
Whether the current market price is within the grid range — if not, the strategy will not take effect and you need to wait for the price to return to the range.
Whether the grid status shows "Running" — if it shows "Paused," check if it stopped due to price breaking the range or hitting stop-loss/take-profit.
Check the number of filled orders — if after some time the filled count is zero, it means the grid interval is too large or the market volatility is not enough to trigger orders.
Next step: If you're unsure which to use, it's recommended to run a small amount of capital with the AI strategy for a while to get familiar with the grid mechanism, then switch to manual mode. On the OKX platform, the AI strategy can be created directly by checking "Use AI Parameters" with one click when creating. Manual mode requires first identifying support/resistance levels, then filling in the range and grid count. Both methods allow you to stop or withdraw profits at any time.
