Interactive Brokers Now Lets Retail Investors Fund Accounts With Stablecoins
What Did Interactive Brokers Announce?
Interactive Brokers will soon let retail investors fund brokerage accounts with stablecoins, according to details reported by Bloomberg. The feature will roll out gradually, starting with a segment of U.S. clients, and will allow users to move money into trading accounts directly from cryptocurrency wallets rather than traditional bank channels.
A company spokesperson confirmed the rollout in an emailed statement. Chairman Thomas Peterffy first mentioned the new capability at a Goldman Sachs conference earlier this week. The update places the firm alongside competitors experimenting with on-chain payment rails as digital assets continue to integrate into mainstream finance.
Interactive Brokers already lets users trade cryptocurrencies in addition to stocks, options and futures. Adding stablecoin deposits extends that offering to the funding layer, where delays and transfer costs often create friction for active traders. Using tokens instead of bank transfers can shorten settlement windows and give clients faster access to trading balances.
Investor Takeaway
Stablecoin deposits let clients move funds into brokerage accounts far faster than traditional transfers. For brokers, it’s a way to stay competitive as rivals push deeper into crypto payments.
Why Are Traditional Brokers Adopting Stablecoin Rails?
Retail trading has become more competitive over the past several years, with platforms like Robinhood and Charles Schwab investing heavily in mobile-first tools and reduced trading costs. Many of these players have also layered in crypto services to attract and retain clients who expect instant transfers and access to digital assets.
Using stablecoins for funding fits into this trend. Token-based transfers operate around the clock and usually settle within minutes. This removes several bottlenecks tied to standard banking rails, especially for clients who already keep assets in digital wallets. By offering a stablecoin option, Interactive Brokers can capture users who want the speed of on-chain transfers without relying on external exchanges to move money.
The move also aligns with a wider shift across financial services, where firms are testing blockchain rails as alternatives for internal settlement, cross-border transfers and client onboarding. Stablecoins, in particular, have become useful as dollar-linked tokens that behave like digital cash.
How Does This Fit Into Interactive Brokers’ Broader Crypto Activity?
The company has been active across several corners of crypto markets. Earlier this year, Interactive Brokers participated in prediction markets tied to economic outcomes, extending its reach into an area where crypto-native platforms have seen early traction.
In October, the firm led a $104 million funding round for ZeroHash, a crypto and stablecoin infrastructure company now valued at $1 billion. ZeroHash powers settlement and crypto services for a range of fintech and trading platforms. Backing the company signals that Interactive Brokers sees long-term value in infrastructure supporting token transfers and stablecoin activity.
Peterffy also told Reuters earlier this year that the company was considering issuing its own stablecoin and examining ways to let clients fund accounts using third-party tokens. Friday’s reveal suggests that part of the plan is now moving forward, starting with established assets like USDC.
Investor Takeaway
Interactive Brokers is slowly building a full crypto stack: trading, infrastructure exposure and now stablecoin transfers. Deposits are a key step because they tie crypto activity directly to brokerage workflows.
What Happens Next?
The company will begin rolling out stablecoin deposits to eligible U.S. users, with broader access expected later. Interactive Brokers has not yet disclosed which tokens will be supported at launch, but the industry trend points toward USDC, given its use in earlier brokerage pilots and payment integrations.
For clients, the addition means an alternative to ACH transfers and wire transfers — channels that can be slow or carry fees. For Interactive Brokers, it strengthens the platform’s standing among traders who already operate across both traditional and digital markets.
As rivals continue to expand their crypto offerings, the introduction of stablecoin funding suggests that brokerage competition is now extending into the payments layer. Whether other major brokers follow with similar features will determine how quickly stablecoin-based funding becomes a standard option in retail trading.