Cryptocurrency markets never sleep—and neither do the bots promising effortless riches. But behind the slick dashboards and viral testimonials lies a harsh reality: most algorithmic traders lose money, scam bots outnumber legit tools, and a single flash crash can wipe out an account in seconds. This playbook cuts through the noise. Written for the educated non-finance reader, it explains how trading algorithms, AI-powered signals, and automated execution actually work—and where they fail. You’ll learn to evaluate a bot’s logic, spot red flags in marketing, understand backtesting’s seductive lies, and navigate order types, slippage, and exchange APIs without getting wrecked. No get-rich-quick fantasies; only clear-eyed, risk-aware guidance on building or choosing a system that fits your tolerance. Every chapter reinforces one truth: past performance never predicts future results, leverage magnifies loss, and you can lose your entire stake. Whether you code your own strategies or evaluate third-party tools, this book gives you the sceptical framework to survive the crypto casino. Part of The AI Crypto Library.