> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.shuriken.trade/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Telegram Bot Setup

> A step-by-step guide to connecting your Telegram group using the official Shuriken Bot.

Connecting via the Official Shuriken Bot is the most secure and straightforward way to get your Telegram group's data into the Alpha Platform.

### How It Works

The bot operates like any other standard Telegram bot. Once added to a group, it will index messages from that chat.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Add the Bot to Your Group">
    The first step is to add the official Shuriken Bot to your Telegram group. You must be a group **Owner** or **Administrator** to do this.

    To add the bot:

    1. Open your Telegram group settings
    2. Navigate to **Add Members** or **Add Administrators**
    3. Search for `@shuriken_alpha_bot` and add it to the group

    <Note>
      The bot only requires permission to read messages. It will never send messages, manage members, or perform any administrative actions in your group.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify Your Membership by Sending a Message">
    After adding the Shuriken Bot to your Telegram group, you must send a message in the group to confirm your membership. This step is required because Telegram only allows the bot to see active members who have recently participated in the chat.

    * Send any message (even something simple like "hello") into your Telegram group.
    * This allows the bot to recognize your membership and make the group eligible for connection in the Shuriken Terminal.
    * If you skip this step, your group may not appear in the list of available connections.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect the Group in Terminal">
    Once you have sent a message in the group and the bot recognizes your membership, navigate to the **Alpha Platform** section in your Shuriken Terminal.

    * Your Telegram group should now appear in the list of available connections.
    * Click **"Connect"** to link the group to your Shuriken account.

    <Check>
      After connecting, you'll be able to activate the group for message indexing—messages will begin to appear in your unified feed in real time once activation is complete.
    </Check>
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  For **private groups** or **channels**, ensure the bot has been granted read access. If the bot cannot see messages, they will not appear in your Alpha Platform feed.
</Warning>