API stands for Application Programming Interface and it is a way for two or more computer programs to communicate with each other. API's are simply the way computer systems talk to each other quickly and safely while protecting your information.
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An API key and secret key are the credentials from exchanges that can be used to extract transaction history information required for tax calculations. Restricting permissions to help secure an API is strongly recommended and our import instructions will show you how to do this. 

ZenLedger only requires Read-Only information for API keys. Even if the key is called a "secret key" as long as the permission is read-only then it's totally safe and will not cause security risks to your accounts.
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We have special integrations with many exchanges and wallets to make this a very easy process for you. If you ever have any questions about our API integrations, please feel free to reach out to our support team!