Interactive Brokers on Thursday expanded its crypto-linked services by allowing eligible clients to fund brokerage accounts using stablecoins, a move the firm says will provide faster, round-the-clock access to global markets.

The announcement underscores growing efforts by traditional brokerages to match the speed and flexibility offered by crypto-native platforms.

The brokerage said it partnered with stablecoin infrastructure provider Zero Hash to support USDC deposits on Ethereum, Solana, and Base, with incoming funds automatically converted into US dollars and credited to client accounts.

It plans to add Ripple USD and PayPal USD next week.

Once received, the stablecoin is automatically converted into US dollars and credited to the client’s brokerage account, enabling trading shortly after the transfer is initiated.

Clients will be able to send USDC on the Ethereum, Solana, or Base blockchains.

“Stablecoin funding provides international investors with the speed and flexibility required in today’s markets. Clients can transfer funds and begin trading within minutes, while also reducing transaction costs,” Milan Galik, chief executive officer of Interactive Brokers, said in the release.

The firm said it does not charge fees for stablecoin deposits, although users are responsible for blockchain network fees.

ZeroHash applies a 0.30% conversion fee per deposit, with a minimum fee of $1.

At press time, USDC had a market capitalization of $75.54 billion, making it the world’s second-largest stablecoin behind Tether, which stands at $186.74 billion.

Interactive Brokers said the move is aimed at addressing what it described as a “critical pain point” in accessing global capital markets.

Traditional cross-border funding via fiat wire transfers can be slow, expensive, and restricted by banking hours, the firm said.

In contrast, stablecoin funding offers near-instant settlement, lower costs, and 24/7 availability.

The brokerage began offering stablecoin account funding for US retail clients in December, and Thursday’s announcement extends the capability more broadly to eligible clients.

The initiative builds on Interactive Brokers’ broader push into crypto-related services.

The firm first introduced cryptocurrency trading in 2021, initially supporting Bitcoin and Ether.

Additional tokens, including Solana and XRP, were added in 2025.

Interactive Brokers has also been an investor in ZeroHash, which previously said it raised $104 million at a $1 billion valuation.

The expansion comes amid rapid growth in the stablecoin sector.

Throughout 2025, stablecoins gained traction as governments, financial institutions, and market participants explored their use for payments and settlement.

The stablecoin sector surpassed $300 billion in market capitalization for the first time in October, driven largely by Tether, USDC, and Ethena Labs’ yield-bearing stablecoin USDe.

As of Friday, the total stablecoin market capitalization stood at more than $310 billion, according to data from DeFi data aggregator DefiLlama.

By enabling stablecoin funding with automatic conversion into US dollars, Interactive Brokers is positioning itself to attract international investors seeking faster access to markets, while maintaining the familiarity of traditional brokerage accounts.

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