diff --git a/freqtrade/constants.py b/freqtrade/constants.py
index 5243eeb4a..e825fbd3f 100644
--- a/freqtrade/constants.py
+++ b/freqtrade/constants.py
@@ -172,11 +172,11 @@ CONF_SCHEMA = {
         'exchange': {
             'type': 'object',
             'properties': {
-                'name': {'type': 'string'},
-                'sandbox': {'type': 'boolean'},
-                'key': {'type': 'string'},
-                'secret': {'type': 'string'},
-                'password': {'type': 'string'},
+                'name': {'type': 'string', 'default': 'bittrex'},
+                'sandbox': {'type': 'boolean', 'default': False},
+                'key': {'type': 'string', 'default': ''},
+                'secret': {'type': 'string', 'default': ''},
+                'password': {'type': 'string', 'default': ''},
                 'uid': {'type': 'string'},
                 'pair_whitelist': {
                     'type': 'array',
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ CONF_SCHEMA = {
                 'ccxt_config': {'type': 'object'},
                 'ccxt_async_config': {'type': 'object'}
             },
-            'required': ['name', 'key', 'secret', 'pair_whitelist']
+            'required': ['pair_whitelist']
         },
         'edge': {
             'type': 'object',
diff --git a/freqtrade/freqtradebot.py b/freqtrade/freqtradebot.py
index a9676a64e..bceab8b23 100644
--- a/freqtrade/freqtradebot.py
+++ b/freqtrade/freqtradebot.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class FreqtradeBot(object):
 
         self.rpc: RPCManager = RPCManager(self)
 
-        exchange_name = self.config.get('exchange', {}).get('name', 'bittrex').title()
+        exchange_name = self.config.get('exchange', {}).get('name').title()
         self.exchange = ExchangeResolver(exchange_name, self.config).exchange
 
         self.wallets = Wallets(self.config, self.exchange)
diff --git a/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py b/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py
index 3e4d642cb..513498766 100644
--- a/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py
+++ b/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ class Backtesting(object):
         self.config['dry_run'] = True
         self.strategylist: List[IStrategy] = []
 
-        exchange_name = self.config.get('exchange', {}).get('name', 'bittrex').title()
+        exchange_name = self.config.get('exchange', {}).get('name').title()
         self.exchange = ExchangeResolver(exchange_name, self.config).exchange
         self.fee = self.exchange.get_fee()