Interactive Brokers (IBKR), one of the world’s largest electronic trading platforms, has officially enabled 24/7 account funding via USD Coin (USDC). The brokerage giant also confirmed plans to integrate Ripple’s RLUSD and PayPal USD (PYUSD) as early as next week, signaling a major push into stablecoin-based settlement layers for traditional finance.
The new feature, powered by institutional crypto infrastructure provider Zero Hash, allows eligible clients to deposit USDC instantly to fund their brokerage accounts. Unlike traditional wire transfers that are bound by banking hours and holidays, the stablecoin option operates around the clock.
Deposited USDC is automatically converted to fiat USD and credited to the client’s balance, allowing for immediate trading across IBKR’s 170+ global markets. The integration currently supports USDC transfers via Ethereum, Solana, and Base networks.
Stablecoins as a “New Clearing Layer”
This move addresses a critical friction point for global investors: the delay and cost of cross-border fiat wires. By adopting stablecoins, IBKR is effectively utilizing blockchain rails to bypass legacy banking bottlenecks.
“Stablecoin deposits offer international investors the speed and flexibility needed in today’s markets,” said Milan Galik, CEO of Interactive Brokers. “Clients can transfer funds and begin trading within minutes, while also reducing transaction costs.”
The addition of RLUSD Ripple’s enterprise-grade stablecoin launched in late 2024 further validates the asset’s growing utility in institutional liquidity.
Source:https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/trading/stablecoin.php