Interactive Brokers Announces 24/7 USDC Deposits for Brokerage Accounts, Powered by Zerohash
Interactive Brokers now allows clients to fund their brokerage accounts around the clock using Circle’s USDC stablecoin. This new feature is powered by Zerohash, a B2B crypto infrastructure provider backed by Interactive Brokers. Users can send USDC from their personal crypto wallets to secure wallets generated by Zerohash on Ethereum, Solana, or Base networks. The USDC is automatically converted to US dollars and credited to their brokerage accounts.
Core Service Features
Interactive Brokers’ launch of 24/7 USDC deposits marks a significant step in integrating crypto assets into traditional brokerage services. As a leading global discount broker with a market capitalization of approximately $110 billion, Interactive Brokers is transforming how funds move into conventional trading accounts.
Unlike traditional wire transfers that depend on banking hours, this new feature enables investors to deposit funds anytime—breaking through time constraints. CEO Milan Galik stated, "Stablecoins offer a faster, lower-cost, and globally accessible funding option compared to traditional wire transfers."
How It Works
The process is straightforward. Users send USDC from their personal crypto wallets to a secure wallet address provided by Zerohash, supporting Ethereum, Solana, and Base networks. Once USDC is received, the system automatically converts it to US dollars and credits the user’s Interactive Brokers account. The entire workflow is designed for rapid settlement, allowing clients to start trading without delay.
Each deposit incurs a 0.30% conversion fee, with a minimum charge of $1. Additionally, users are responsible for standard blockchain network transaction fees when sending USDC. Interactive Brokers does not charge any deposit fees.
Upcoming Stablecoin Options
Interactive Brokers plans to expand its stablecoin support as early as next week, adding Ripple’s RLUSD and PayPal’s PYUSD. RLUSD is a fiat-backed stablecoin launched by Ripple, while PYUSD is issued by PayPal and pegged 1:1 to the US dollar.
This expansion underscores Interactive Brokers’ commitment to offering diverse stablecoin options to meet varying client preferences and needs. It also aligns with the company’s broader strategy to develop more trading options linked to stablecoins.
Market Data & Performance
According to Gate market data as of January 16, 2026, the major stablecoins involved show notable differences in market performance:
| Stablecoin | Current Price (USD) | 24h Trading Volume (USD) | Market Cap (USD) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USDC | $1.00 | $6.78 B | $33.59 B | Issued by Circle, regulated by NYDFS, transparent reserve assets |
| RLUSD | $0.9995 | $57.3 M | $1.33 B | Ripple’s compliant stablecoin, deployed on Ethereum and XRP Ledger, targeting institutional and cross-border payments |
| PYUSD | $1.00 | $89.67 M | $980 M | Stablecoin issued by PayPal, integrated into its payment ecosystem |
Market data shows that USDC, as a large-scale stablecoin, leads in both trading volume and market cap. RLUSD has experienced rapid growth since its launch in December 2024, with its market cap surpassing $1.3 billion thanks to regulatory compliance and multi-chain deployment—making it a key contender in the stablecoin sector. In contrast, PYUSD, while integrated into a mature payment platform, still trails RLUSD in market capitalization.
Strategic Background
Interactive Brokers’ stablecoin deposit service is part of its ongoing digital asset strategy. The company entered the crypto market in late 2021, initially partnering with regulated blockchain infrastructure provider Paxos to offer trading and custody for major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
In July 2025, founder Thomas Peterffy revealed that Interactive Brokers was exploring the possibility of issuing its own stablecoin. While this plan remains undecided, it signals the company’s commitment to deeper involvement in the crypto industry. At the time, Peterffy stated that Interactive Brokers was working to "enable instant, 24/7 stablecoin deposits for brokerage accounts and support asset transfers for common trading cryptocurrencies."
Interactive Brokers views cryptocurrencies as a way to hedge against potential market disruptions. While expanding crypto-related services, the company has also launched innovative products like the prediction market ForecastEx to strategically manage risks across both its traditional and crypto businesses.
Industry Trends & Impact
Interactive Brokers’ move reflects the accelerating adoption of cryptocurrencies by traditional financial institutions. As stablecoins demonstrate advantages in cross-border payments, fund transfers, and trade settlement, more legacy financial firms are exploring ways to integrate these digital assets.
Competitors like Robinhood have followed suit, launching a global dollar network last year centered on Paxos-issued USDG stablecoin. This competitive landscape highlights how major retail platforms are racing to embed core brokerage services into the stablecoin ecosystem.
Interactive Brokers’ new service is especially beneficial for international investors. Traditional cross-border wire transfers can take days and are restricted by banking hours, while stablecoin transfers typically settle within minutes. Stablecoins are reshaping global capital flows, and Interactive Brokers’ initiative is just one example of this transformation. With RLUSD and PYUSD soon joining the supported list, the broker is building a more diverse digital asset gateway. This development may prompt more traditional financial institutions to reevaluate their stance on crypto assets, accelerating the convergence of legacy finance and decentralized finance.
Market Response & Outlook
Interactive Brokers’ stock has risen about 48% year-to-date, far outpacing the industry index’s roughly 20% gain. By the end of June 2025, the company’s client accounts had grown to approximately 3.87 million, a 32% increase year-over-year.
The market’s response to this new service will be worth watching. If the stablecoin deposit feature sees broad adoption, it could encourage more traditional financial institutions to launch similar offerings, further driving stablecoin adoption and the integration of crypto with conventional finance.
For investors, platforms like Gate now make it easier to acquire, hold, and transfer these stablecoins, which can then be seamlessly deposited into traditional brokerage accounts for broader investment opportunities. This enhanced interoperability may fundamentally change how many manage their funds.
As Interactive Brokers prepares to add RLUSD and PYUSD support, the competitive landscape in the stablecoin market could shift. Different stablecoins may differentiate themselves for specific use cases and user segments. The walls of the financial world are being reshaped by code, and Interactive Brokers’ move may be just the first door that legacy finance opens to the crypto universe.
