> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://www.degenbot.wiki/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://www.degenbot.wiki/start-here/quick-start.md).

# Quick start

Go from opening Telegram to understanding your first Degen alert.

You need Telegram and access to the official Degen Trading Bot. You do not need a funded exchange account simply to read and learn from alerts.

### 1. Open the official bot

Use the bot link supplied through Degen's verified onboarding or the membership you purchased. Check the exact username, not only the display name or profile picture. A community group and the bot's private conversation are not necessarily the same place.

The official bot URL has not yet been verified for this documentation draft, so this page deliberately does not guess a username.

### 2. Start the conversation

Tap Telegram's **Start** button. In an existing conversation, `/start` is the usual starting command; follow the response shown by your release. Complete any welcome, eligibility, or access steps that actually appear.

Telegram bots generally need you to initiate contact before they can message you. See [Telegram's introduction to bots](https://core.telegram.org/bots#how-do-bots-work).

### 3. Check access before paying again

For a membership purchased through Whop, open that membership and follow its access instructions. Use the intended Telegram account when a connection or verification step is offered. Do not assume that joining a public group activates a paid bot subscription.

An access error is not a reason to buy twice. First check the account, membership status, and onboarding instructions; then contact the support destination shown in your purchase account.

### 4. Find the current controls

Use the buttons in the newest bot message or Telegram's command menu. The guide covers `/performance`; other buttons and commands depend on the deployed release. See **Commands and menus** for the distinction between confirmed and historical controls.

Where the bot offers a market or alert-stream selector, read the available choices before saving. Do not assume that selecting a chart's symbol also filters all automatic alerts.

### 5. Read one message slowly

Identify the **symbol**, **stream**, **direction**, **timestamp**, and any **expiry or invalidation**. Check whether the message is a new setup, a move already underway, or a result update.

LONG describes an upward scenario; SHORT describes a downward scenario. Neither opens a trade. Read **Understanding alerts → Read an alert** before using the message for any decision.

### 6. Review instead of rushing

Start by observing an alert through to its recorded outcome. Use `/performance` to inspect the available report, but do not interpret accuracy as a promised return.

**A successful first session:** you can identify the correct bot, locate the current menu, explain one alert in your own words, and find the performance view. You do not need to make a trade to complete setup.