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veebch/btcticker

A Python script that turns a Raspberry Pi and a Waveshare 2.7-inch ePaper display into a desk cryptocurrency price ticker fed by CoinGecko.

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What is it?

btcticker is a Python script that runs on a Raspberry Pi connected to a Waveshare 2.7-inch monochrome ePaper display. Every five minutes by default, it fetches prices from CoinGecko and renders a summary on the screen, so a coin's price and trend can sit on a desk as a passive display.

You choose the coins to track, the fiat currencies they are priced in, and optionally a specific exchange as the price source. Supported coins are those listed on CoinGecko. The display can cycle through multiple coins and currencies, show volume and rank, draw a sparkline chart over a configurable number of days, and optionally add CoinGecko's trending coins.

Setup involves installing packages with apt, cloning the Waveshare driver library, and creating a Python virtual environment. A systemd service then starts the ticker at boot. Four physical buttons on the HAT cycle coins, cycle fiat currencies, rotate the screen, and invert the colours.

Key features

  • 01Fetches prices from CoinGecko at a configurable interval, 300 seconds by default
  • 02Supports any coin or fiat currency listed on CoinGecko, with optional exchange-specific prices
  • 03Cycles through multiple coins and currencies with buttons or automatically
  • 04Shows volume, rank, and a sparkline price chart
  • 05Optional trending-coins mode
  • 06Runs as a systemd service that starts at boot

Use cases

  • A desk ornament that displays live cryptocurrency prices on a low-power ePaper screen
  • A Raspberry Pi project for learning about SPI displays and systemd services
  • Monitoring a small set of coins priced in several fiat currencies

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install the required system packages on the Raspberry Pi

    sudo apt-get install -y git python3-venv
  2. 2

    Clone the btcticker repository

    git clone https://github.com/veebch/btcticker.git
  3. 3

    Create a virtual environment and install the Python modules into it

    python3 -m venv --system-site-packages .venv
  4. 4

    Run the ticker by hand to test it

    .venv/bin/python btcticker.py

Things to know

  • Requires a Raspberry Pi and a Waveshare 2.7-inch ePaper display, so it is hardware-dependent.
  • The script is set up for the V1 Waveshare display; V2 needs code changes.
  • It relies on the CoinGecko free API and a full Raspberry Pi OS install.
  • Licensed under GPL-3.0, a copyleft license that requires derivative works to remain open source.

Topics

#cryptocurrency#raspberry-pi#e-paper#python#coingecko#iot

FAQ

What is btcticker?
A Python script that turns a Raspberry Pi and a Waveshare 2.7-inch ePaper display into a desk cryptocurrency price ticker fed by CoinGecko. btcticker is a Python script that runs on a Raspberry Pi connected to a Waveshare 2.7-inch monochrome ePaper display. Every five minutes by default, it fetches prices from CoinGecko and renders a summary on the screen, so a coin's price and trend can sit on a desk as a passive display.
Is btcticker free to use? What license does it have?
btcticker is open source under the GPL-3.0 license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is btcticker still maintained?
Updated within 6 months. The last commit to btcticker was on Sep 29, 2026.
What can I use btcticker for?
A desk ornament that displays live cryptocurrency prices on a low-power ePaper screen A Raspberry Pi project for learning about SPI displays and systemd services Monitoring a small set of coins priced in several fiat currencies
How do I install btcticker?
Install the required system packages on the Raspberry Pi: sudo apt-get install -y git python3-venv Clone the btcticker repository: git clone https://github.com/veebch/btcticker.git Create a virtual environment and install the Python modules into it: python3 -m venv --system-site-packages .venv Run the ticker by hand to test it: .venv/bin/python btcticker.py
Where can I get btcticker?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/veebch/btcticker

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