Interactive Brokers (IBKR) announced that eligible clients of Interactive Brokers LLC can now fund their brokerage accounts using USDC (USD Coin), a stablecoin backed 1:1 by the US dollar.
This enables 24/7 account funding, including weekends and holidays, with near-instant processing—often within minutes—allowing clients to deposit funds and start trading across over 170 global markets quickly.
Clients send USDC from their personal crypto wallet to a secure wallet address generated via a partnership with Zerohash; a B2B crypto infrastructure provider. The stablecoin is automatically converted to USD and credited to the brokerage account.
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At launch, transfers are available on Ethereum, Solana, and Base. This multi-chain support leverages faster, lower-cost networks like Solana for efficiency. Interactive Brokers charges no deposit fees, but Zerohash applies a 0.30% conversion fee minimum $1.00, plus standard blockchain network fees.
This eliminates delays from bank wires which can take days, especially cross-border, offers lower costs, and provides true 24/7 liquidity without banking hour restrictions. Support for additional stablecoins—Ripple’s RLUSD and PayPal’s PYUSD—is planned to go live in the coming weeks as early as next week from the announcement date.
This move bridges traditional finance (TradFi) with blockchain, making it easier for global investors to move capital seamlessly. It’s part of IBKR’s broader crypto integration efforts, though note that this is specifically for funding brokerage accounts converting to fiat USD, not for holding or trading USDC directly in the account.
Zerohash plays a crucial backend role as the regulated crypto infrastructure provider and partner enabling Interactive Brokers’ (IBKR) new 24/7 stablecoin funding feature. Zerohash acts as the intermediary that bridges the blockchain world with traditional brokerage accounts.
When an eligible IBKR client wants to fund their account with USDC or soon RLUSD/PYUSD, they log into the IBKR Client Portal, select “Fund with Stablecoin,” and choose a supported blockchain (Ethereum, Solana, or Base).
Zerohash generates a unique, secure wallet address and QR code specifically for that transaction. The client then sends USDC from their personal crypto wallet to this Zerohash-provided address. Once the stablecoin arrives on the blockchain, Zerohash receives it, automatically converts the USDC to fiat USD at a 1:1 peg, minus fees, and credits the equivalent USD amount to the client’s IBKR brokerage account—often within minutes.
This process enables true 24/7 availability including weekends/holidays, near-instant processing, and avoids the delays/costs of traditional bank wires. IBKR itself charges no deposit fees for this, but Zerohash applies a conversion fee of 0.30% per deposit with a $1.00 minimum.
Clients also cover any standard blockchain network/gas fees. Zerohash is a B2B crypto and stablecoin infrastructure platform often described as “the operating system for digital money”. It provides regulated, compliant tools for banks, brokerages, fintechs, and other financial platforms to integrate onchain money movement, including: Fiat on/off-ramps.
Stablecoin payments, payouts, funding, and remittances. Custody, tokenization, and instant cross-border capabilities. They hold various licenses like money transmission in multiple U.S. states, BitLicense from NYDFS, and recent MiCAR compliance in Europe), which allows them to handle these services compliantly for partners like IBKR.
This partnership is a key example of how Zerohash helps traditional finance (TradFi) players like Interactive Brokers offer seamless crypto-enabled features without building the entire blockchain infrastructure themselves. It’s similar to their work with other platforms for account funding, payouts, and crypto trading integrations.
This launch marks a significant step in making stablecoins practical for everyday brokerage funding, note that availability is primarily for eligible Interactive Brokers LLC clients (U.S.-based entity).