Interactive Brokers has expanded its push into always-on global investing by enabling 24/7 account funding via stablecoin, while also confirming that political, economic, and climate forecast contracts are now live on its platform.
The new funding option allows eligible clients of the US investing platform, Interactive Brokers LLC (IB LLC) to deposit funds using USDC, a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, with near-instant processing at any time of day, including weekends and holidays. Once received, USDC is automatically converted into U.S. dollars and credited to the client’s brokerage account, enabling investors to deploy capital across more than 170 global markets within minutes.
The move is aimed squarely at reducing friction in global capital mobility. Traditional cross-border bank wires can be slow, costly, and constrained by banking hours, correspondent banking relationships, and multiple currency conversions. Stablecoins, by contrast, operate continuously on blockchain networks and can settle in minutes, offering investors faster access to capital when market opportunities arise.
Interactive Brokers says the stablecoin option is designed for funding and settlement rather than speculation. For investors already holding digital dollars, funding directly with USDC avoids additional conversion steps, reduces timing risk, and can lower overall transfer costs. Stablecoins are designed to track the U.S. dollar on a 1:1 basis, making them suitable for brokerage funding, margin collateral, or idle cash management.
“Stablecoin funding provides international investors with the speed and flexibility required in today’s markets,” said Milan Galik, Chief Executive Officer of Interactive Brokers. “Clients can transfer funds and begin trading within minutes, while also reducing transaction costs.”
Clients can initiate a stablecoin deposit through the Interactive Brokers Client Portal by selecting “Fund with Stablecoin,” choosing a supported blockchain network such as Ethereum, Solana, or Base, and sending USDC from their crypto wallet to a secure wallet generated in collaboration with digital asset infrastructure provider zerohash. Funds typically arrive within minutes.
Interactive Brokers does not charge fees for stablecoin deposits, although clients remain responsible for blockchain network fees. zerohash applies a conversion fee of 0.30% per deposit, with a minimum charge of $1. Support for additional stablecoins, including Ripple’s RLUSD and PayPal’s PYUSD, is expected to be added in the coming weeks.
The stablecoin launch comes alongside the rollout of political, economic, and climate forecast contracts, expanding the broker’s range of market-access tools for traders and investors seeking exposure to event-driven outcomes.
Richard is the founder of the Good Money Guide (formerly Good Broker Guide), one of the original investment comparison sites established in 2015. With a career spanning two decades as a broker, he brings extensive expertise and knowledge to the financial landscape.
Having worked as a broker at Investors Intelligence and a multi-asset derivatives broker at MF Global (Man Financial), Richard has acquired substantial experience in the industry. His career began as a private client stockbroker at Walker Crips and Phillip Securities (now King and Shaxson), following internships on the NYMEX oil trading floor in New York and London IPE in 2001 and 2000.
Richard’s contributions and expertise have been recognized by respected publications such as The Sunday Times, BusinessInsider, Yahoo Finance, BusinessNews.org.uk, Master Investor, Wealth Briefing, iNews, and The FT, among many others.
Under Richard’s leadership, the Good Money Guide has evolved into a valuable destination for comprehensive information and expert guidance, specialising in trading, investment, and currency exchange. His commitment to delivering high-quality insights has solidified the Good Money Guide’s standing as a well-respected resource for both customers and industry colleagues.
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