freqtrade-us-setup
# Freqtrade US Setup Guide
> **⚠️ Security First:** This guide emphasizes legal, secure setup for US users. Never use VPNs to bypass exchange geo-restrictions — it violates ToS, risks fund freezes, and may be illegal.
## 1-Minute Intro
Freqtrade (the Python bot) is legal in the US. The catch: many exchanges block US traders. **Use Kraken** — it's stable, US-compliant, and officially supported.
## Quick Start
### Step 1: Generate Kraken API Keys
1. Log into Kraken → Settings → API
2. Create a new key with these permissions **exactly**:
- ✅ **Funds: Query**
- ✅ **Orders: Query open orders & trades**
- ✅ **Orders: Query closed orders & trades**
- ✅ **Orders: Create & modify orders**
- ✅ **Orders: Cancel & close orders**
- ❌ **NEVER enable Withdraw** (critical security risk)
### Step 2: Docker Setup
```bash
# Clone Freqtrade
git clone https://github.com/freqtrade/freqtrade.git
cd freqtrade
# Create config (interactive wizard)
docker-compose run --rm freqtrade new-config --config /freqtrade/user_data/config.json
# When prompted:
# - Exchange: kraken
# - Stake currency: USDT (or USD)
# - Dry-run: yes (always start paper trading!)
```
### Step 3: Secure Your Keys
Freqtrade uses a specific double-underscore env var pattern (`FREQTRADE__SECTION__KEY`) that overrides config values at runtime. Create a `.env` file in your Freqtrade directory:
```bash
# Kraken API (required)
FREQTRADE__EXCHANGE__KEY=your-kraken-api-key
FREQTRADE__EXCHANGE__SECRET=your-kraken-secret
# Web UI (optional)
FREQTRADE__API_SERVER__USERNAME=your-username
FREQTRADE__API_SERVER__PASSWORD=your-password
FREQTRADE__API_SERVER__JWT__SECRET__KEY=your-jwt-secret
FREQTRADE__API_SERVER__WS__TOKEN=your-ws-token
# Telegram (optional — leave empty if not using)
# Note: Multi-bot Telegram setup via env vars is unverified.
# If you hit issues, consult Freqtrade docs for your specific setup.
# Never hardcode sensitive tokens in files that could be committed to git.
FREQTRADE__TELEGRAM__TOKEN=
FREQTRADE__TELEGRAM__CHAT_ID=
```
**Add to `.gitignore` immediately:**
```bash
echo ".env" >> .gitignore
```
In `user_data/config.json`, leave the exchange key and secret as **empty strings** — Freqtrade will populate them from the env vars automatically:
```json
{
"exchange": {
"name": "kraken",
"key": "",
"secret": "",
"ccxt_config": {},
"ccxt_async_config": {}
},
"stake_currency": "USDT",
"dry_run": true,
"max_open_trades": 3
}
```
### Step 4: Validate & Test
```bash
# Download historical data
docker-compose run --rm freqtrade download-data \
--pairs BTC/USDT ETH/USDT \
--timeframe 5m \
--timerange 20240101-
# Run dry-run for 1-2 weeks before going live
docker-compose up
```
## Before Going Live
1. **Dry-run minimum:** 1-2 weeks of paper trading
2. **Backtest:** Verify your strategy works historically
3. **Start small:** Go live with a conservative stake amount
4. **Monitor:** Watch closely for first 24-48 hours
## When to Read References
- **exchange-comparison.md** → Comparing Kraken, Binance.US, Coinbase
- **security-checklist.md** → API key management, fund protection, common mistakes
---
**Disclaimer:** Freqtrade is open-source, experimental software. Trading involves financial risk. This guide is provided as-is with no guarantees. Use at your own risk.
**Questions?** See references/ or check Freqtrade's official docs at https://www.freqtrade.io
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