Enhanced Funding Options with Stablecoins
Interactive Brokers has expanded its cryptocurrency offerings by allowing clients to fund brokerage accounts using stablecoins that are automatically converted into U.S. dollars, the company announced. This new service enables eligible clients to deposit USDC now, with support for Ripple USD and PayPal USD expected soon, settling near-instantly into USD brokerage balances.
The brokerage has partnered with Zerohash to enable around-the-clock deposits using USDC across multiple blockchain networks. Once received, the stablecoins are converted into dollars and credited directly to client accounts, removing the delays and cut-off times associated with fiat wire transfers, the company stated.
Interactive Brokers first introduced USDC funding for retail accounts in December and has explored the idea of issuing its own stablecoin, according to the firm. The company said stablecoin funding addresses a critical pain point for investors, particularly those operating across borders.
Addressing Cross-Border Payment Challenges
Traditional wire transfers can take days to settle and often come with high fees, while stablecoins allow near-instant transfers at lower cost and without banking-hour restrictions, the brokerage noted.
“Stablecoin funding provides international investors with the speed and flexibility required in today’s markets,” said CEO Milan Galik. “Clients can transfer funds and begin trading within minutes, while also reducing transaction costs.”
Growth of Stablecoin Market and Adoption
Interactive Brokers began offering crypto trading services in 2021, initially supporting Bitcoin and Ether before adding more tokens in later years, including Solana and XRP. The latest expansion reflects growing demand from clients seeking faster ways to move capital into trading accounts as crypto assets become more integrated into mainstream finance, according to the company.
The rollout comes as stablecoins continue to gain traction globally. Throughout 2025, governments, banks and financial institutions increasingly explored stablecoins for payments and settlements, helping drive the sector’s growth.
Data from DefiLlama shows the total stablecoin market capitalization has climbed above $310 billion, up sharply from a year earlier. Global stablecoin transaction value reached $33 trillion in 2025, marking a 72% increase from the previous year, according to Bloomberg data compiled by Artemis Analytics.
USDC emerged as the most-used stablecoin by transaction volume, processing $18.3 trillion, while Tether’s USDT handled $13.3 trillion, despite maintaining its lead by market capitalization at $187 billion, the data showed. The surge in activity followed the passage of the GENIUS Act in July 2025, the first comprehensive U.S. regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, which industry participants say provided legal certainty that encouraged broader institutional and global adoption.
Stablecoin usage on fintech platform Revolut also accelerated sharply in 2025, with payment volumes estimated to have climbed 156% year over year to roughly $10.5 billion, as digital dollars gain ground in everyday payments, according to industry data.