Interactive Brokers Opens Floodgates: U.S. Retail Clients Can Now Deposit Stablecoins

A major brokerage just tore down a wall. Interactive Brokers, a titan in the institutional trading space, is now letting everyday U.S. investors fund their accounts with stablecoins.

From Wall Street to Main Street, Digitally

This isn't a test or a limited pilot. It's a full-scale policy shift that bridges the gap between traditional finance and the crypto ecosystem. For retail traders, it means faster settlements and a direct on-ramp from their digital wallets to a regulated brokerage platform—bypassing the usual banking delays and wire transfer fees.

The Mechanics of the Move

The process is designed for simplicity. Clients can deposit approved stablecoins, which are instantly converted to U.S. dollars within their brokerage account. It’s a seamless integration that treats crypto not as a speculative asset in this instance, but as a functional currency for account funding. The move effectively treats stablecoins like any other electronic cash transfer, just with a blockchain receipt.

Why This Changes the Game

It signals a quiet but profound acceptance. When a legacy platform with deep regulatory roots adopts this method, it legitimizes the underlying infrastructure for a skeptical mainstream. It’s a nod to efficiency that also happens to be a massive client acquisition play in a competitive market—after all, who wouldn’t want to avoid the ‘pleasure’ of a traditional bank wire?

The Fine Print and the Future

This rollout comes with guardrails, of course. Only specific, large-market-cap stablecoins are accepted, adhering to the firm's risk and compliance frameworks. But the door is now open. It sets a precedent that other brokerages will be forced to follow or risk looking obsolete. It’s a pragmatic step that acknowledges where the money—and the momentum—is actually flowing.

The move cleverly caters to a growing, tech-savvy investor base while giving a masterclass in how traditional finance can co-opt innovation to stay relevant. One cynical take? It’s the financial industry’s version of ‘if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em’—just with enough fees and compliance paperwork to make it feel like home.

How USDC Funding Works

To deposit via stablecoin, clients must log into the Interactive Brokers Client Portal, go to Transfer & Pay, select Deposit Funds, and choose “Fund with Stablecoin.” Users then select a blockchain network—such as Ethereum, Solana, or Base—and Zerohash generates a unique wallet address and QR code for the transaction.

Clients must send USDC from their personal crypto wallets to the provided address, ensuring that the selected blockchain network matches the one chosen during the deposit setup. Interactive Brokers strongly advises against manually typing wallet addresses due to the risk of irreversible errors.

Transaction Limits, Fees, and Supported Assets

Stablecoin deposits come with several constraints: a $10 minimum per transfer, a $25,000 per-transaction cap, a $25,000 daily limit, and a monthly ceiling of $100,000. At present, only USDC is supported; deposits in other stablecoins or cryptocurrencies will not be processed.

Interactive Brokers said it does not charge deposit fees, though users must cover blockchain gas fees associated with the chosen network. Zerohash applies a 0.3% conversion fee, with a $1 minimum. Most deposits are credited within minutes following blockchain confirmation, offering speed advantages over ACH or wire transfers.

Interactive Brokers cautions that USDC must be sent on the exact blockchain network selected during setup. Sending assets via the wrong network or to an incorrect wallet address may result in rejection, delays, or permanent loss of funds. Users encountering issues are directed to the firm’s stablecoin deposit FAQ for troubleshooting.

Step Toward 24/7 Bank-Free Funding?

By allowing deposits directly from crypto wallets, Interactive Brokers is moving toward a funding model that is faster, continuously available, and less dependent on banking intermediaries.

The phased U.S. rollout shows growing institutional acceptance of stablecoins as a practical settlement tool, particularly for active traders seeking real-time funding flexibility.

Coinbase Predicts Stablecoins Will Enter the Mainstream

Stablecoins are set to move firmly into the financial mainstream next year, according to Keith Grose, UK CEO of Coinbase, who expects continued acceleration in consumer adoption and regulatory clarity.

Speaking ahead of expected policy developments in the UK, Grose outlines why he believes stablecoins are becoming a central pillar of the next phase of digital finance.

“We see stablecoins transitioning into mainstream payment rails in the UK and worldwide in 2026,” Grose said. “More consumers are now using stablecoins for seamless everyday payments, without needing to change how they transact.”

He added that global investors are increasingly turning to digital-currency alternatives to diversify away from traditional dollar-denominated instruments.