Kalshi Strategies the Validator Rejects

Studio checks a Kalshi event-contract strategy (platform: kalshi) every time you save it, so a strategy with an invalid setting is refused before it can trade. Each example on this page shows a common mistake, the message you'll see, and how to fix it.

Other rejected examples sit next to the setting they involve: an unknown top-level key under Unknown and misspelled keys, selection with a pinned ticker under market.selection, and active_window combined with trading_schedule under Trading schedule.

max_loss on a built-in strategy

risk.max_loss only works on custom Kalshi strategies. Remove it from a built-in strategy, or use strategy: custom if you need a loss halt.

# Rejected: max_loss only works on custom Kalshi strategies, not built-in strategies
# error: risk.max_loss: requires durable deployment-run attribution, currently supported only for Kalshi custom strategies
version: 1
platform: kalshi
strategy: panic_fade
market:
  ticker: KXSENATEGA-26-D
risk:
  max_position: 2
  price_floor: 0.10
  price_ceiling: 0.90
  max_loss: 5.00
loop:
  interval: 30
params:
  panic_threshold: 0.08
  fade_size: 1

A buy that can't fit max_notional

Every buy rule must fit inside risk.max_notional at least once at the price floor: size × price_floor must not exceed max_notional. Here that is 5 × $0.05 = $0.25. Raise max_notional to 0.25 or more, or lower size or price_floor.

# Rejected: a buy of 5 contracts at the 0.05 floor costs 0.25, more than the 0.24 budget
# error: entry cannot satisfy risk.max_notional within the configured price bounds
version: 1
platform: kalshi
strategy: custom
market:
  ticker: KXNBAGAME-26NOV04LALBOS-LAL
risk:
  max_position: 5
  price_floor: 0.05
  price_ceiling: 0.55
  max_notional: 0.24
loop:
  interval: 15
rules:
  - name: take_profit
    when:
      all:
        - {field: yes_position_size, op: ">", value: 0}
        - {field: yes_best_bid, op: ">=", value: 0.65}
    action: sell_yes
  - name: enter
    when:
      all:
        - {field: position_size, op: "==", value: 0}
        - {field: yes_best_ask, op: "<=", value: 0.45}
    action: buy_yes
    size: 5

Loop interval under 10 seconds

loop.interval must be a whole number of at least 10 seconds. Set it to 10 or more.

# Rejected: the loop interval is below the 10-second minimum
# error: loop.interval: must be >= 10 seconds
version: 1
platform: kalshi
strategy: custom
market:
  series_ticker: KXBTC15M
risk:
  max_position: 2
  price_ceiling: 0.90
loop:
  interval: 5
rules:
  - name: take_profit
    when:
      all:
        - {field: yes_position_size, op: ">", value: 0}
        - {field: yes_best_bid, op: ">=", value: 0.75}
    action: sell_yes
  - name: enter
    when:
      all:
        - {field: position_size, op: "==", value: 0}
        - {field: yes_best_ask, op: "<=", value: 0.35}
    action: buy_yes

Timezone abbreviation in a schedule

trading_schedule.timezone must be UTC or an IANA name such as America/New_York. Abbreviations such as EST are rejected, so write timezone: America/New_York instead.

# Rejected: schedule timezones must be IANA names such as America/New_York, not abbreviations
# error: timezone must be an IANA name such as America/Chicago, or UTC
version: 1
platform: kalshi
strategy: custom
market:
  series_ticker: KXINX
risk:
  max_position: 2
  price_ceiling: 0.90
loop:
  interval: 30
trading_schedule:
  timezone: EST
  trading_hours:
    - days: [mon, tue, wed, thu, fri]
      start: "09:30"
      end: "16:00"
rules:
  - name: take_profit
    when:
      all:
        - {field: yes_position_size, op: ">", value: 0}
        - {field: yes_best_bid, op: ">=", value: 0.60}
    action: sell_yes
  - name: enter
    when:
      all:
        - {field: position_size, op: "==", value: 0}
        - {field: yes_best_ask, op: "<=", value: 0.30}
    action: buy_yes