Freqtrade is a free and open source cryptocurrency trading bot written in Python that automates trading across major cryptocurrency exchanges. The bot is designed to be controlled via Telegram or a built-in web UI, making it accessible for users who want to automate their trading strategies without manual intervention. It supports both spot and futures trading across a wide range of exchanges including Binance, Kraken, OKX, Bybit, Gate, Bitget, and others, with community testing confirming compatibility with additional exchanges like Bitvavo and Kucoin.
The core functionality includes backtesting capabilities that allow users to simulate their trading strategies against historical data before risking real capital. The bot features a dry-run mode for testing without actual money, persistence through SQLite databases, and the ability to display profit and loss calculations in fiat currency. Users can manage cryptocurrency whitelists and blacklists to control which assets are traded, and the bot provides performance status reports on active trades. A built-in web UI complements the Telegram interface for comprehensive bot management.
Freqtrade incorporates machine learning capabilities through its FreqAI module, which enables strategy optimization and adaptive prediction modeling. This allows the bot to self-train to market conditions using machine learning methods, helping traders develop smarter strategies that evolve with market dynamics. The platform supports strategy optimization by machine learning, allowing users to refine their buy and sell parameters using real exchange data.
The codebase is organized around two main development branches: the develop branch which contains new features but may include breaking changes, and the stable branch which represents the latest tested release. Feature branches are also maintained for specific ongoing work. The project requires Python 3.11 or higher and recommends minimum hardware specifications of 2GB RAM, 1GB disk space, and 2 vCPU for operation. Docker deployment is recommended for easier setup.
The repository emphasizes educational use with explicit disclaimers that users trade at their own risk. The documentation is comprehensive and available on the freqtrade website, covering exchange-specific configurations, leverage trading, and detailed feature documentation. The project maintains an active Discord community for support and discussion, and welcomes contributions through pull requests with a clear contribution process outlined in the repository's contributing guidelines.
