Interactive Brokers Revolutionizes Global Capital Access with 24/7 Stablecoin Funding
Interactive Brokers (Nasdaq: IBKR) reached a major milestone in the evolution of digital-to-fiat brokerage services on January 15, 2026, by launching a 24/7 account funding feature. This new capability allows eligible clients to deposit funds into their brokerage accounts using stablecoins, effectively bypassing the constraints of traditional banking hours and the sluggishness of legacy wire transfers. By enabling near-instant processing, the automated global electronic broker is addressing a long-standing pain point for international investors who often face high costs and multi-day delays when moving capital across borders. This integration not only facilitates immediate participation in over 170 global markets but also positions Interactive Brokers as a leader in the convergence of traditional finance and blockchain-based settlement layers, ensuring that the “speed of opportunity” is no longer limited by the operational schedule of correspondent banks.
The Technical Mechanics of USDC Integration and the Role of Zerohash
The new funding feature is powered by a strategic collaboration with Zerohash, a B2B crypto and stablecoin infrastructure provider in which Interactive Brokers holds a significant stake. Clients can initiate deposits by sending USD Coin (USDC)—the digital asset backed one-to-one by the U.S. dollar—from their personal crypto wallets to a secure wallet generated by Zerohash. The system currently supports transfers across the ETH, Solana, and Base networks, providing a high degree of flexibility for users already embedded in the decentralized economy. Once the stablecoin is received, it is automatically converted into U.S. dollars and credited to the client’s brokerage account within minutes. While Interactive Brokers itself does not charge a fee for these deposits, Zerohash applies a low conversion fee of 0.30% per deposit, with a minimum requirement of one dollar. This transparent and automated workflow ensures that traders can maintain their liquid positions in the digital ecosystem until the very moment they are ready to deploy capital into traditional equities, options, or futures.
Expanding the Stablecoin Ecosystem and the Vision for Universal Liquidity
The launch of USDC funding is only the first phase of a broader strategic roadmap designed to redefine how capital moves through the IBKR platform. CEO Milan Galik confirmed that the firm plans to expand its stablecoin support as ahead as next week, with the anticipated addition of Ripple’s RLUSD and PayPal’s PYUSD. This expansion reflects the broker’s commitment to providing a “universal liquidity” layer that accommodates the diverse preferences of its four million global clients. By offering multiple stablecoin options, Interactive Brokers is mitigating the risk of network congestion and providing a more resilient funding environment. Furthermore, this move coincides with reports that the broker outperformed the S&P 500 in 2025, with retail clients achieving an average return of 19.2%. As the firm continues to integrate blockchain technology into its core brokerage metrics, it is effectively setting a new industry standard for capital mobility, ensuring that global investors have the tools they need to react to market-moving events in real-time, regardless of their geographic location or time zone.
