SBE Level 50 Integration

Overview

Channel: private MMWS only (not available on public WS).
Topic: ob.50.sbe.{symbol} (snapshot or delta, every 20 ms).
Format: SBE binary frames (opcode = 2), little-endian.
Depth: 50 levels per side (no RPI in this stream).
Units: timestamps in microseconds (µs); price/size are mantissas with exponents.

SBE Connection Limit

Spot: 1500 connections limit per dedicated MMWS host.
Futures (linear + inverse): 3000 connections limit per dedicated MMWS host.
Once you breach the connection limit, new connections return HTTP 429.

Flow

Ping / Pong (JSON control frames)

Send Ping

{"req_id": "100001", "op": "ping"}

Receive Pong

{"success": true,"ret_msg": "pong","conn_id": "xxxxx-xx","req_id": "","op": "ping"}

Topic format: ob.50.sbe.<symbol>

Subscribe request

{"op": "subscribe", "args": ["ob.50.sbe.BTCUSDT"]}

Subscription confirmation

{"success": true,"ret_msg": "","conn_id": "d30fdpbboasp1pjbe7r0","req_id": "xxx","op": "subscribe"}

SBE XML Template (L50 OB)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<sbe:messageSchema xmlns:sbe="http://fixprotocol.io/2016/sbe"
                   xmlns:mbx="https://bybit-exchange.github.io/docs/v5/intro"
                   package="quote.sbe"
                   id="1"
                   version="0"
                   semanticVersion="1.0.0"
                   description="Bybit market data streams SBE message schema"
                   byteOrder="littleEndian"
                   headerType="messageHeader">
  <types>
    <composite name="messageHeader" description="Template ID and length of message root">
      <type name="blockLength" primitiveType="uint16"/>
      <type name="templateId" primitiveType="uint16"/>
      <type name="schemaId" primitiveType="uint16"/>
      <type name="version" primitiveType="uint16"/>
    </composite>

    <composite name="varString8" description="Variable length UTF-8 string.">
      <type name="length" primitiveType="uint8"/>
      <type name="varData" length="0" primitiveType="uint8" semanticType="String" characterEncoding="UTF-8"/>
    </composite>

    <composite name="groupSize16Encoding" description="Repeating group dimensions.">
      <type name="blockLength" primitiveType="uint16"/>
      <type name="numInGroup" primitiveType="uint16"/>
    </composite>

    <!-- NEW: package type enum -->
    <enum name="pkgTypeEnum" encodingType="uint8">
      <validValue name="SNAPSHOT">0</validValue>
      <validValue name="DELTA">1</validValue>
    </enum>
  </types>

  <sbe:message name="BestOBRpiEvent" id="20000">
    <field id="1"  name="ts"             type="int64" description="The timestamp in microseconds that the system generates the data"/>
    <field id="2"  name="seq"            type="int64" description="Cross sequence ID"/>
    <field id="3"  name="cts"            type="int64" description="The timestamp in microseconds from the matching engine when this orderbook data is produced."/>
    <field id="4"  name="u"              type="int64" description="Update Id"/>
    <field id="5"  name="askNormalPrice" type="int64" mbx:exponent="priceExponent" description="Mantissa for the best ask normal price"/>
    <field id="6"  name="askNormalSize"  type="int64" mbx:exponent="sizeExponent" description="Mantissa for the best ask normal size"/>
    <field id="7"  name="askRpiPrice"    type="int64" mbx:exponent="priceExponent" description="Mantissa for the best ask rpi price"/>
    <field id="8"  name="askRpiSize"     type="int64" mbx:exponent="sizeExponent" description="Mantissa for the best ask rpi size"/>
    <field id="9"  name="bidNormalPrice" type="int64" mbx:exponent="priceExponent" description="Mantissa for the best bid normal price"/>
    <field id="10" name="bidNormalSize"  type="int64" mbx:exponent="sizeExponent" description="Mantissa for the best bid normal size"/>
    <field id="11" name="bidRpiPrice"    type="int64" mbx:exponent="priceExponent" description="Mantissa for the best bid rpi price"/>
    <field id="12" name="bidRpiSize"     type="int64" mbx:exponent="sizeExponent" description="Mantissa for the best bid rpi size"/>
    <field id="13" name="priceExponent"  type="int8"  description="Price exponent for decimal point positioning"/>
    <field id="14" name="sizeExponent"   type="int8"  description="Size exponent for decimal point positioning"/>
    <data  id="55" name="symbol"         type="varString8"/>
  </sbe:message>

  <!-- Stream event for "ob.50.sbe.<symbol>" channel -->
  <sbe:message name="OBL50Event" id="20001">
    <field id="1"  name="ts"            type="int64" description="The timestamp in microseconds that the system generates the data"/>
    <field id="2"  name="seq"           type="int64" description="Cross sequence ID"/>
    <field id="3"  name="cts"           type="int64" description="The timestamp in microseconds from the matching engine when this orderbook data is produced."/>
    <field id="4"  name="u"             type="int64" description="Update Id"/>
    <field id="5"  name="priceExponent" type="int8"  description="Price exponent for decimal point positioning"/>
    <field id="6"  name="sizeExponent"  type="int8"  description="Size exponent for decimal point positioning"/>
    <!-- NEW: package type -->
    <field id="7"  name="pkgType"       type="pkgTypeEnum" description="Package type: 0 = SNAPSHOT (full book), 1 = DELTA (partial update)"/>

    <group id="40" name="asks" dimensionType="groupSize16Encoding" description="Sell side order book updates">
      <field id="1" name="price" type="int64" description="Price mantissa"/>
      <field id="2" name="size"  type="int64" description="Size mantissa"/>
    </group>

    <group id="41" name="bids" dimensionType="groupSize16Encoding" description="Buy side order book updates">
      <field id="1" name="price" type="int64" description="Price mantissa"/>
      <field id="2" name="size"  type="int64" description="Size mantissa"/>
    </group>

    <data id="55" name="symbol" type="varString8"/>
  </sbe:message>
</sbe:messageSchema>

Field Reference

Message: OBL50Event (id = 20001)

Field Name	ID	SBE Type	Unit / Format	Notes
ts	1	int64	µs	System generation time at push side (dispatcher).
seq	2	int64	integer	Cross-sequence id (monotonic per feed; not guaranteed continuous).
cts	3	int64	µs	Matching-engine creation time of this OB snapshot or delta; used for latency measurements.
u	4	int64	integer	Update id (monotonic per symbol). Useful to check continuity.
priceExponent	5	int8	exponent	Decimal places for price. Display price = mantissa × 10^`priceExponent`.
sizeExponent	6	int8	exponent	Decimal places for size. Display size = mantissa × 10^`sizeExponent`.
pkgType	7	uint8 (`pkgTypeEnum`)	integer	Package type (0 = snapshot, 1 = delta).
asks	40	group(`groupSize16Encoding`)	—	Sell side updates (up to 50 levels).
bids	41	group(`groupSize16Encoding`)	—	Buy side updates (up to 50 levels).
symbol	55	varString8	UTF-8	1-byte length + bytes, e.g., `0x07 "BTCUSDT"`.

Asks Group

Field (id)	Type	Description
price (1)	int64	Ask price mantissa. Display ask price = `price × 10^priceExponent`.
size (2)	int64	Ask size mantissa. Display ask size = `size × 10^sizeExponent`.

Bids Group

Field (id)	Type	Description
price (1)	int64	Bid price mantissa. Display bid price = `price × 10^priceExponent`.
size (2)	int64	Bid size mantissa. Display bid size = `size × 10^sizeExponent`.

Order Book Update Logic

Rules for the u (Update ID) Field

Behavior of `u`

Field u increases monotonically for all snapshots and deltas.
Field u does not reset, unless there is a system reset or precision change.
Field u = 1 always indicates a snapshot, and continuity checks must stop.

Continuity Validation

Continuity must be checked only when u != 1.

Condition	Action
`u != 1`	Validate continuity: next `u` should follow previous `u + 1`.
`u == 1`	Special snapshot (service restart / precision change). Do not perform continuity checks.

Rules for Order Book Maintenance

First Message of connection and reconnection

After subscribing, the first message is always a snapshot, clients must initialize the local book with it.

Snapshot Handling

A snapshot must always replace the entire local order book

Snapshots may appear:

after initial subscription
when the number of changed levels > 100 (extreme market condition auto-fallback)
after internal service restart
after exponent / precision changes

Delta Handling

A delta applies incrementally:

Insert/update levels with size > 0,remove levels when size == 0,continue continuity checks using the u field.

Extreme Market Condition Handling

When a delta contains more than 100 combined bid+ask updates (buy + sell), the system automatically sends a full snapshot instead of a delta.
Ensures client books resync cleanly.
Prevents explosion of delta packets during high churn.
Keeps snapshot size fixed length for predictable decoding.

Example Push Update

Below is a real case where the connection stays healthy and messages arrive in order:

u	Type	Notes
10000	snapshot	First message after subscription.
10001	delta	Incremental updates. Must apply changes to the existing book.
10002	delta	Normal incremental update.
10003	snapshot	Large market move (> 100 level changes). Use snapshot to replace local book.
10004	delta	Continue delta from the new snapshot.
1	snapshot	Service restarted / precision changed — reset `u` to 1.
2	delta	New continuity sequence.
3	delta	—
4	delta	—

Integration Script

Python

import json
import logging
import struct
import threading
import time
from datetime import datetime
from typing import Dict, Any, List, Tuple

import websocket

logging.basicConfig(
    filename='logfile_ob50.log',
    level=logging.INFO,
    format='%(asctime)s %(levelname)s %(message)s'
)

# -------------------------------------------------------------------
# Config
# -------------------------------------------------------------------

# L50 SBE order book topic
TOPIC = "ob.50.sbe.BTCUSDT"

# Adjust URL for spot / contract environment as needed:
WS_URL = "wss://stream-testnet.bybits.org/v5/public-sbe/spot"

# -------------------------------------------------------------------
# SBE Parser for OBL50Event (template_id = 20001)
#
# XML schema:
#   ts(int64), seq(int64), cts(int64), u(int64),
#   priceExponent(int8), sizeExponent(int8),
#   pkgType(uint8)   # 0 = SNAPSHOT, 1 = DELTA
#   group asks: blockLen(uint16), numInGroup(uint16),
#               then numInGroup * [ price(int64), size(int64) ]
#   group bids: same as asks
#   symbol(varString8)
# -------------------------------------------------------------------

class SBEOBL50Parser:
    def __init__(self):
        # message header: blockLength, templateId, schemaId, version
        self.header_fmt = "<HHHH"
        self.header_sz = struct.calcsize(self.header_fmt)

        # fixed body fields:
        # ts, seq, cts, u   -> 4 x int64
        # priceExponent, sizeExponent -> 2 x int8
        # pkgType -> uint8
        self.body_fmt = "<qqqqbbB"   # 4*q + 2*b + B
        self.body_sz = struct.calcsize(self.body_fmt)

        # group header for repeating groups: blockLength(uint16), numInGroup(uint16)
        self.group_hdr_fmt = "<HH"
        self.group_hdr_sz = struct.calcsize(self.group_hdr_fmt)

        # each group entry: price(int64), size(int64)
        self.level_fmt = "<qq"
        self.level_sz = struct.calcsize(self.level_fmt)

        self.target_template_id = 20001

    # ---------------- core small helpers ----------------

    def _parse_header(self, data: bytes) -> Dict[str, Any]:
        if len(data) < self.header_sz:
            raise ValueError("insufficient data for SBE header")
        block_length, template_id, schema_id, version = struct.unpack_from(
            self.header_fmt, data, 0
        )
        return {
            "block_length": block_length,
            "template_id": template_id,
            "schema_id": schema_id,
            "version": version,
        }

    @staticmethod
    def _parse_varstring8(data: bytes, offset: int) -> Tuple[str, int]:
        if offset + 1 > len(data):
            raise ValueError("insufficient data for varString8 length")
        (length,) = struct.unpack_from("<B", data, offset)
        offset += 1
        if length == 0:
            return "", offset
        if offset + length > len(data):
            raise ValueError("insufficient data for varString8 bytes")
        s = data[offset: offset + length].decode("utf-8")
        offset += length
        return s, offset

    @staticmethod
    def _apply_exponent(value: int, exponent: int) -> float:
        return value / (10 ** exponent) if exponent >= 0 else value * (10 ** (-exponent))

    def _parse_levels(self, data: bytes, offset: int) -> Tuple[List[Dict[str, float]], int]:
        """
        Parse one repeating group (asks or bids).
        Layout:
           uint16 blockLength
           uint16 numInGroup
           numInGroup * [ price(int64), size(int64) ] (within blockLength)
        """
        if offset + self.group_hdr_sz > len(data):
            raise ValueError("insufficient data for group header")
        block_len, num_in_group = struct.unpack_from(self.group_hdr_fmt, data, offset)
        offset += self.group_hdr_sz

        if block_len < self.level_sz:
            raise ValueError(f"blockLength({block_len}) < level_sz({self.level_sz})")

        levels = []
        for _ in range(num_in_group):
            if offset + block_len > len(data):
                raise ValueError("insufficient data for group entry")
            # we only care about first 16 bytes (price, size)
            price_m, size_m = struct.unpack_from(self.level_fmt, data, offset)
            offset += block_len  # skip the whole block (safe if future adds extra fields)

            levels.append({
                "price_m": price_m,
                "size_m": size_m,
            })
        return levels, offset

    # ---------------- public parse ----------------

    def parse(self, data: bytes) -> Dict[str, Any]:
        hdr = self._parse_header(data)
        if hdr["template_id"] != self.target_template_id:
            raise NotImplementedError(f"unsupported template_id={hdr['template_id']}")

        if len(data) < self.header_sz + self.body_sz:
            raise ValueError("insufficient data for OBL50Event body")

        # parse fixed body
        (ts, seq, cts, u,
         price_exp, size_exp, pkg_type) = struct.unpack_from(
            self.body_fmt, data, self.header_sz
        )

        offset = self.header_sz + self.body_sz

        # asks group
        asks_raw, offset = self._parse_levels(data, offset)
        # bids group
        bids_raw, offset = self._parse_levels(data, offset)
        # symbol
        symbol, offset = self._parse_varstring8(data, offset)

        # apply exponents
        asks = [
            {
                "price": self._apply_exponent(l["price_m"], price_exp),
                "size": self._apply_exponent(l["size_m"], size_exp),
            }
            for l in asks_raw
        ]
        bids = [
            {
                "price": self._apply_exponent(l["price_m"], price_exp),
                "size": self._apply_exponent(l["size_m"], size_exp),
            }
            for l in bids_raw
        ]

        return {
            "header": hdr,
            "ts": ts,
            "seq": seq,
            "cts": cts,
            "u": u,
            "price_exponent": price_exp,
            "size_exponent": size_exp,
            "pkg_type": pkg_type,   # 0 = SNAPSHOT, 1 = DELTA
            "symbol": symbol,
            "asks": asks,
            "bids": bids,
            "parsed_length": offset,
        }


parser = SBEOBL50Parser()

# -------------------------------------------------------------------
# WebSocket handlers
# -------------------------------------------------------------------

def on_message(ws, message):
    try:
        if isinstance(message, (bytes, bytearray)):
            decoded = parser.parse(message)

            pkg_type = decoded["pkg_type"]
            pkg_str = "SNAPSHOT" if pkg_type == 0 else "DELTA" if pkg_type == 1 else f"UNKNOWN({pkg_type})"

            asks = decoded["asks"]
            bids = decoded["bids"]

            best_ask = asks[0] if asks else {"price": 0.0, "size": 0.0}
            best_bid = bids[0] if bids else {"price": 0.0, "size": 0.0}

            logging.info(
                "SBE %s u=%s seq=%s type=%s asks=%d bids=%d "
                "BEST bid=%.8f@%.8f ask=%.8f@%.8f ts=%s",
                decoded["symbol"], decoded["u"], decoded["seq"], pkg_str,
                len(asks), len(bids),
                best_bid["price"], best_bid["size"],
                best_ask["price"], best_ask["size"],
                decoded["ts"],
            )

            print(
                f"{decoded['symbol']}  u={decoded['u']}  seq={decoded['seq']}  {pkg_str}  "
                f"levels: asks={len(asks)} bids={len(bids)}  "
                f"BEST: bid {best_bid['price']:.8f} x {best_bid['size']:.8f}  |  "
                f"ask {best_ask['price']:.8f} x {best_ask['size']:.8f}"
            )

        else:
            # text frame: control / errors / ping-pong
            try:
                obj = json.loads(message)
                logging.info("TEXT %s", obj)
                print("TEXT:", obj)
            except json.JSONDecodeError:
                logging.warning("non-JSON text frame: %r", message)
                print("TEXT(non-json):", message)
    except Exception as e:
        logging.exception("decode error: %s", e)
        print("decode error:", e)


def on_error(ws, error):
    print("WS error:", error)
    logging.error("WS error: %s", error)


def on_close(ws, *_):
    print("### connection closed ###")
    logging.info("connection closed")


def ping_per(ws):
    while True:
        try:
            ws.send(json.dumps({"op": "ping"}))
        except Exception:
            return
        time.sleep(10)


def on_open(ws):
    print("opened")
    sub = {"op": "subscribe", "args": [TOPIC]}
    ws.send(json.dumps(sub))
    print("subscribed:", TOPIC)

    # background ping thread
    threading.Thread(target=ping_per, args=(ws,), daemon=True).start()


def on_pong(ws, *_):
    print("pong received")


def on_ping(ws, *_):
    print("ping received @", datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S"))


def connWS():
    ws = websocket.WebSocketApp(
        WS_URL,
        on_open=on_open,
        on_message=on_message,
        on_error=on_error,
        on_close=on_close,
        on_ping=on_ping,
        on_pong=on_pong,
    )
    ws.run_forever(ping_interval=20, ping_timeout=10)


if __name__ == "__main__":
    websocket.enableTrace(False)
    connWS()
    

Golang

// sbe_ob50_client.go
package main

import (
    "bytes"
    "compress/flate"
    "encoding/binary"
    "encoding/json"
    "fmt"
    "log"
    "math"
    "time"

    "github.com/gorilla/websocket"
    "yourmodule/quote" // generated SBE package
)

const (
    WSURL   = "wss://stream.bybit.com/v5/market/sbe"
    CHANNEL = "ob.50.sbe.BTCUSDT"
)

func toReal(mantissa int64, exponent int8) float64 {
    return float64(mantissa) * math.Pow10(int(exponent))
}

func decodeOBL50(buf []byte) (*quote.OBL50Event, error) {
    var hdr quote.MessageHeader
    reader := bytes.NewReader(buf)

    // decode messageHeader (little endian)
    if err := binary.Read(reader, binary.LittleEndian, &hdr); err != nil {
        return nil, fmt.Errorf("read header: %w", err)
    }

    if hdr.TemplateId != 20001 {
        return nil, fmt.Errorf("unexpected templateId: %d", hdr.TemplateId)
    }

    var msg quote.OBL50Event
    // many generators provide WrapForDecode; here assume we can read the fixed block then groups
    if err := msg.Decode(reader, int(hdr.BlockLength), int(hdr.Version)); err != nil {
        return nil, fmt.Errorf("decode OBL50: %w", err)
    }

    return &msg, nil
}

func main() {
    book := NewOrderBook()

    dialer := websocket.Dialer{
        HandshakeTimeout: 10 * time.Second,
        EnableCompression: false,
    }

    conn, _, err := dialer.Dial(WSURL, nil)
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatalf("dial: %v", err)
    }
    defer conn.Close()

    // subscribe
    sub := map[string]interface{}{
        "op":   "subscribe",
        "args": []string{CHANNEL},
    }
    if err := conn.WriteJSON(sub); err != nil {
        log.Fatalf("subscribe: %v", err)
    }

    for {
        mt, data, err := conn.ReadMessage()
        if err != nil {
            log.Fatalf("read: %v", err)
        }

        if mt == websocket.TextMessage {
            // control JSON or pong etc
            var m map[string]interface{}
            _ = json.Unmarshal(data, &m)
            continue
        }

        // if server wraps SBE in per-message deflate, you may need to decompress:
        if isDeflatedFrame(data) {
            data, err = inflate(data)
            if err != nil {
                log.Printf("inflate error: %v", err)
                continue
            }
        }

        msg, err := decodeOBL50(data)
        if err != nil {
            log.Printf("decode error: %v", err)
            continue
        }

        u := msg.U
        pkgType := msg.PkgType // 0 snapshot, 1 delta
        pxExp := msg.PriceExponent
        szExp := msg.SizeExponent

        // extract levels
        var asks, bids [][2]float64
        for _, a := range msg.Asks {
            p := toReal(a.Price, pxExp)
            sz := toReal(a.Size, szExp)
            asks = append(asks, [2]float64{p, sz})
        }
        for _, b := range msg.Bids {
            p := toReal(b.Price, pxExp)
            sz := toReal(b.Size, szExp)
            bids = append(bids, [2]float64{p, sz})
        }

        // continuity logic:
        if u == 1 {
            // service restart / precision change snapshot
            book.Asks.SnapshotFrom(asks)
            book.Bids.SnapshotFrom(bids)
            book.LastU = 1
            fmt.Printf("[RESET SNAPSHOT] u=%d seq=%d symbol=%s\n", u, msg.Seq, msg.Symbol)
            continue
        }

        if book.LastU != 0 && u != book.LastU+1 {
            log.Printf("[WARN] u jump: lastU=%d newU=%d – consider resync", book.LastU, u)
        }

        if pkgType == quote.PkgTypeEnum_SNAPSHOT {
            book.Asks.SnapshotFrom(asks)
            book.Bids.SnapshotFrom(bids)
        } else {
            for _, lv := range asks {
                book.Asks.Apply(lv[0], lv[1])
            }
            for _, lv := range bids {
                book.Bids.Apply(lv[0], lv[1])
            }
        }

        book.LastU = u
        bestBid := book.Bids.BestBid()
        bestAsk := book.Asks.BestAsk()
        fmt.Printf("u=%d pkgType=%d bestBid=%.5f bestAsk=%.5f\n", u, pkgType, bestBid, bestAsk)
    }
}

// helpers (optional, depending on ws framing)
func isDeflatedFrame(data []byte) bool {
    // placeholder: detect by protocol; many setups know from WS sub-protocol
    return false
}

func inflate(data []byte) ([]byte, error) {
    r := flate.NewReader(bytes.NewReader(data))
    defer r.Close()

    var out bytes.Buffer
    if _, err := out.ReadFrom(r); err != nil {
        return nil, err
    }
    return out.Bytes(), nil
}

Overview​

SBE Connection Limit​

Flow​

Ping / Pong (JSON control frames)​

Subscribe​

SBE XML Template (L50 OB)​

Field Reference​

Asks Group​

Bids Group​

Order Book Update Logic​

Rules for the u (Update ID) Field​

Behavior of u​

Continuity Validation​

Rules for Order Book Maintenance​

First Message of connection and reconnection​

Snapshot Handling​

Delta Handling​

Example Push Update​

Integration Script​

Python​

Golang​