Interactive Brokers Launches Stablecoin Funding for Trading Accounts

Interactive Brokers, one of the world’s largest brokerage firms, has begun allowing customers to fund their trading accounts using stablecoins. The feature marks a major shift in how traditional finance companies handle digital assets.

The announcement came on December 10, 2025, when Chairman Thomas Peterffy revealed the new capability at the Goldman Sachs Financial Services Conference. The rollout started with eligible U.S. customers and will expand globally in phases.

How the System Works

Interactive Brokers partnered with ZeroHash, a crypto infrastructure company, to power the stablecoin deposits. Customers can now transfer USDC directly from their personal crypto wallets to their brokerage accounts.

The process is straightforward. Users log into their Interactive Brokers account, select “Fund with Stablecoin,” and choose a blockchain network—Ethereum, Solana, or Base. The system generates a unique wallet address where users send their USDC. Once confirmed on the blockchain, the stablecoin automatically converts to U.S. dollars in the account.

Source: @WatcherGuru

Most deposits credit within minutes, significantly faster than traditional bank transfers that can take 2-4 days. This speed advantage gives traders the ability to respond quickly to market opportunities.

Costs and Limits

Interactive Brokers does not charge deposit fees for stablecoin transfers. However, users must pay blockchain gas fees, which vary depending on network congestion. ZeroHash applies a 0.3% conversion fee with a $1 minimum when converting USDC to dollars.

The company set clear limits for stablecoin deposits. Each transfer requires a minimum of $10 and caps at $25,000 per transaction. Daily deposits cannot exceed $25,000, and monthly deposits top out at $100,000.

Currently, only USDC works with the system. Deposits in other stablecoins or cryptocurrencies will be rejected. The company warns that sending funds to the wrong blockchain network or incorrect wallet address may result in permanent loss.

Strategic Investment in Crypto Infrastructure

Interactive Brokers has been preparing for this launch. In September 2025, the firm led a $104 million investment in ZeroHash, valuing the infrastructure provider at $1 billion. Major institutions including Morgan Stanley, SoFi, and Apollo also participated in the funding round.

The investment showed Interactive Brokers’ commitment to building crypto capabilities. Peterffy had told Reuters earlier in 2025 that the firm was exploring issuing its own stablecoin while also considering support for third-party tokens.

Interactive Brokers manages approximately $757.5 billion in customer equity across 4.13 million accounts spanning 160 global markets. The firm’s scale means this stablecoin integration could normalize digital asset funding across mainstream finance.

Competing in a Changing Market

The move helps Interactive Brokers compete with rivals like Robinhood and Charles Schwab, which have been expanding crypto services aggressively. Robinhood already uses USDC behind the scenes to speed up settlements, while Schwab is exploring creating its own stablecoin.

The stablecoin market reached record levels when Interactive Brokers made its announcement. Total stablecoin market capitalization surpassed $310 billion on December 10, 2025, with Tether’s USDT leading at $186 billion and Circle’s USDC at $78 billion.

Traditional finance firms are recognizing stablecoins as useful infrastructure rather than just speculative assets. The GENIUS Act, passed in July 2025, provided clearer regulatory frameworks that encouraged major institutions to explore stablecoin integration.

Why This Matters for Investors

The 24/7 funding capability solves a major pain point for active traders. Traditional banking operates within business hours and banking days, creating delays when markets move quickly. Stablecoin deposits work around the clock since blockchain networks never close.

For investors who already hold crypto assets, the feature eliminates extra steps. Previously, they would need to sell crypto on an exchange, withdraw to a bank account, then transfer to their brokerage—a process taking days. Now they can move USDC directly from their wallet to start trading immediately.

The development also signals that crypto adoption is accelerating among traditional financial institutions. When a major regulated broker like Interactive Brokers integrates blockchain rails, it validates the technology for mainstream use.

However, investors should understand the risks. Blockchain transactions are irreversible, so sending funds to the wrong address means permanent loss. Users must verify they’re using the correct network and wallet address before sending any transfer.

The Road Ahead

Interactive Brokers plans to expand the feature to more customers and potentially more countries, though specific timelines have not been announced. The phased rollout allows the company to monitor system performance and regulatory compliance before wider availability.

Industry analysts expect other major brokerages to follow Interactive Brokers’ lead. The success of early adopters like Tastytrade, which launched similar features using ZeroHash infrastructure, shows demand exists for faster, more flexible funding options.

The company’s stock showed minimal immediate reaction to the announcement, declining 3.91% on December 12 in line with broader market sentiment. However, Interactive Brokers shares remain up approximately 43.83% year-to-date, reflecting strong overall performance.

Bridging Two Financial Worlds

Interactive Brokers’ stablecoin integration represents more than just a new deposit method. It shows how blockchain technology is becoming standard financial infrastructure rather than an experimental add-on. As regulatory clarity improves and more institutions adopt similar features, the line between traditional finance and digital assets continues to blur—making it easier for everyday investors to access both worlds from a single platform.