diff --git a/freqtrade/misc.py b/freqtrade/misc.py
index 9a33fe430..23e2779a0 100644
--- a/freqtrade/misc.py
+++ b/freqtrade/misc.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def file_dump_json(filename: Path, data: Any, is_zip: bool = False, log: bool =
         if log:
             logger.info(f'dumping json to "{filename}"')
 
-        with gzip.open(filename, "w") as fpz:
+        with gzip.open(filename, "wt", encoding="utf-8") as fpz:
             rapidjson.dump(data, fpz, default=str, number_mode=rapidjson.NM_NATIVE)
     else:
         if log:
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def file_dump_joblib(filename: Path, data: Any, log: bool = True) -> None:
     logger.debug(f'done joblib dump to "{filename}"')
 
 
-def json_load(datafile: Union[gzip.GzipFile, TextIO]) -> Any:
+def json_load(datafile: TextIO) -> Any:
     """
     load data with rapidjson
     Use this to have a consistent experience,
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ def file_load_json(file: Path):
     # Try gzip file first, otherwise regular json file.
     if gzipfile.is_file():
         logger.debug(f"Loading historical data from file {gzipfile}")
-        with gzip.open(gzipfile) as datafile:
+        with gzip.open(gzipfile, "rt", encoding="utf-8") as datafile:
             pairdata = json_load(datafile)
     elif file.is_file():
         logger.debug(f"Loading historical data from file {file}")
diff --git a/ft_client/requirements.txt b/ft_client/requirements.txt
index 35406c1d0..5e6856e92 100644
--- a/ft_client/requirements.txt
+++ b/ft_client/requirements.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 # Requirements for freqtrade client library
 requests==2.32.3
-python-rapidjson==1.17
+python-rapidjson==1.18
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index f2338bc82..170e5d805 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ pyarrow==16.1.0; platform_machine != 'armv7l'
 py_find_1st==1.1.6
 
 # Load ticker files 30% faster
-python-rapidjson==1.17
+python-rapidjson==1.18
 # Properly format api responses
 orjson==3.10.5