Daniel Walker
Interactive Brokers (NASDAQ: IBKR) is pushing traditional brokerage into the digital age by enabling 24/7 account funding using Circle’s USDC stablecoin. The move opens the door to round-the-clock trading, removing the time and cost barriers of legacy banking rails.
By adopting stablecoins, the firm gives traders a faster, cheaper, and globally accessible way to move capital into their accounts without waiting for banks to open.
According to the company, stablecoins provide a major advantage over wire transfers and other legacy systems. They allow clients to fund accounts instantly, regardless of local business hours.
Interactive Brokers CEO Milan Galik emphasized that this upgrade delivers the speed and flexibility modern investors demand, enabling clients to transfer money and start trading within minutes while lowering transaction costs.
Zerohash Powers the USDC Integration
The stablecoin infrastructure behind the scenes is provided by Zerohash, a B2B crypto and payments platform backed by Interactive Brokers.
Clients can send USDC from their own crypto wallets to a secure Zerohash-generated address on supported networks including Ethereum, Solana, and Base. Once received, the tokens are automatically converted into U.S. dollars and credited to the brokerage account.
Low Fees and Institutional-Grade Settlement
Zerohash applies a 0.30% conversion fee per deposit, with a $1 minimum, in addition to standard blockchain network fees. This makes stablecoin funding a cost-efficient alternative to international wire transfers.
Zerohash has also attracted major industry attention, with reports suggesting Mastercard previously explored acquiring the firm for up to $2 billion.
More Stablecoins Coming Soon
Interactive Brokers is not stopping with USDC. The company plans to support additional stablecoins, including Ripple’s RLUSD and PayPal’s PYUSD, as early as next week.
The firm has also explored the idea of launching a native stablecoin, signaling long-term commitment to digital asset infrastructure.
A Brokerage Veteran Embracing Crypto Innovation
Founded in 1978, Interactive Brokers is known for its low-cost, high-performance trading platform. It entered crypto services in 2021 with support for BTC, ETH, LTC, and BCH, later expanding to include SOL, ADA, XRP, and DOGE.
By adding stablecoin funding and 24/7 trading, Interactive Brokers is positioning itself as a bridge between traditional finance and the always-on crypto economy.
