Interactive Brokers Now Accepts Stablecoins in a Bid to Remain Competitive

Core Viewpoint - Interactive Brokers is enhancing its offerings by allowing retail investors to fund brokerage accounts with stablecoins, aiming to remain competitive in the retail trading market [1][2]. Group 1: Company Developments - The firm will gradually roll out the stablecoin funding feature, starting with a select group of eligible US clients [3]. - Interactive Brokers' chairman, Thomas Petterffy, announced this new capability at a Goldman Sachs conference [3]. - The use of stablecoins enables customers to fund accounts directly from cryptocurrency wallets instead of traditional bank accounts [3]. Group 2: Industry Trends - Traditional brokerages are increasingly integrating crypto-related features to retain retail clients as digital assets become more mainstream [2]. - The move to accept stablecoins positions Interactive Brokers alongside other firms exploring blockchain-based payment systems to enhance transaction efficiency [2]. - The firm has been active in adjacent crypto markets, including leading a $104 million funding round for ZeroHash, a crypto and stablecoin infrastructure provider valued at $1 billion [4].