Interactive Brokers Enables Stablecoin Funding With USDC Deposits

TheNewsCryptoPublished on 2026-01-16Last updated on 2026-01-16

Abstract

Interactive Brokers now allows clients to fund brokerage accounts using USDC stablecoins, enabling faster settlements and 24/7 access to deposits. The service, launched in partnership with Zero Hash, supports transfers on Ethereum, Solana, and Base networks. Deposits are automatically converted to USD upon receipt, streamlining the process and reducing costs, particularly for international clients who face delays and fees with traditional wire transfers. The firm plans to expand support to include RLUSD and PYUSD next week. This move is part of Interactive Brokers' broader strategy to integrate cryptocurrency services, reflecting the growing adoption of stablecoins as financial infrastructure.

Interactive Brokers has further bolstered its services related to cryptocurrencies, with the company now allowing its clients to use stablecoins to fund their brokerage accounts, ensuring faster settlements and 24/7 access for account funding. As soon as the stablecoins are received, the transfer will be automatically settled in USD, allowing clients to fund their trading accounts.

Interactive Brokers announced on Thursday that it teamed up with cryptocurrency infrastructure company zerohash in a partnership that aims to enable the funding of stablecoin accounts on the Ethereum, Solana, and Base networks. The new system will enable clients to make their USDC deposits at any hour of the day, and such deposits will be credited in USD when they are received.

This upgrade will improve brokerage funding, especially in cases involving global clients, who often suffer from delays or high fees when transacting via fiat wires.

24/7 funding replaces wire-transfer friction

Interactive Brokers positioned stablecoins as a response to a historical bottleneck in access to the global capital markets. In conventional cross-border deposits, funding access is organized through bank processing windows or cut-off times that incur fees charged by third-party institutions.

Stablecoins upset the applecart. With USDC, the transaction settlement happens on-chain, so their customers can transmit their money at any given time with near-instant verification and start trading in minutes, not days.

“Stablecoin funding gives international investors the speed and flexibility necessary to thrive under today’s market conditions,” said CEO Milan Galik. He further added that it gives traders the benefit of being able to transfer their funds as well as trade as soon as possible, thereby lowering transaction costs compared to the usual wire route.

Since Interactive Brokers immediately converts USDC to USD when received, it prevents customers from maintaining balances of stablecoins within the brokerage. This ensures that the funding mechanism remains straightforward and that it is easier to align it with conventional account settlement systems.

More stablecoins incoming next week

Interactive Brokers also said it plans to expand beyond USDC shortly. Support for Ripple USD (RLUSD) and PayPal USD (PYUSD) is expected to roll out next week, giving clients more funding options depending on the networks and issuers they prefer.

The brokerage first introduced stablecoin funding for retail investors in December, when it allowed certain account types to deposit USDC. The new expansion broadens the stablecoin rails and strengthens the firm’s infrastructure by adding multi-chain support.

Interactive Brokers has also explored launching its own stablecoin in the past, according to earlier reporting, suggesting long-term interest in tokenized settlement as part of its financial product strategy.

Crypto trading expansion continues

Interactive Brokers ventured into cryptocurrency trading in the year 2021 by combining digital assets with its vast platforms. It started by supporting well-known cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Later, it added more cryptocurrencies to the list.

In 2025, the brokerage added other assets such as Solana (SOL) and XRP, reflecting growing client demands for broader exposure. The upgrade to its stablecoin funding now complements those services with better means for clients to get money onto the platform.

Stablecoin growth supports adoption

The timing also coincides with the wider trend. Throughout 2025, stablecoins increased sharply as governments, banks, fintech firms, and payment platforms began exploring tokenized dollars for faster settlement and cross-border transfers.

Stablecoin market capitalization surpassed $300 billion in October, driven by strong growth in major issues such as Tether (USDT) and Circle’s USDC, as well as newer products like Ethena’s yield-bearing USDe. As of Friday, the stablecoin sector sits above $310 billion, according to DeFi data aggregator DeFiLlama.

Now that Interactive Brokers offers stablecoin funding, the brokerage industry keeps chugging along toward these blockchain-based settlement rails, with the indication that more and more, stablecoins act as financial infrastructure, not just crypto-native tooling.

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