Interactive Brokers Lets You Move Crypto Without Selling: Here’s What You Need to Know!

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Interactive Brokers lets clients move crypto from external wallets without liquidating

Interactive Brokers now allows customers to move cryptocurrency from wallets outside of IBKR directly into their accounts, without needing to sell it first. This expands the company’s offering as a low-cost platform for various types of investments.

Summary

  • Interactive Brokers (NASDAQ: IBKR) announced on March 25 that clients can transfer supported cryptocurrencies from external wallets directly into their IBKR-linked crypto accounts without first liquidating their positions.
  • The feature covers Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and other supported assets, with custody handled through Paxos or zerohash, and commissions ranging from 0.12% to 0.18% of trade value — significantly below the industry norm of up to 2.00%.
  • The move follows IBKR’s January launch of 24/7 stablecoin account funding and deepens its push to position itself as a single destination for both traditional and digital asset management.

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) now lets customers transfer their cryptocurrency directly into their accounts without needing to sell it first. This new feature, launched on Wednesday, allows users to move holdings like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana from other wallets or platforms into accounts held with Paxos or zerohash, which are linked to their Interactive Brokers accounts. This means customers can manage all their investments – including stocks, bonds, and crypto – in one place.

Interactive Brokers CEO Milan Galik explained the new feature is designed to simplify crypto trading. He stated that investors shouldn’t have to juggle multiple accounts or sell their holdings just to access better prices or more investment options. By allowing users to easily transfer their crypto portfolios, Interactive Brokers aims to offer low-cost trading and access to global markets all within a single, professional platform.

IBKR heavily emphasizes its low costs as a key benefit. It charges trading commissions between 0.12% and 0.18% of the trade value – with a minimum fee of $1.75 per order – and doesn’t add any hidden spreads or markups. This is significantly lower than many other crypto platforms, which can charge fees of 2% or more and often include extra costs. Earlier this year, IBKR introduced 24/7 funding for stablecoin accounts. This allows customers to deposit USDC and quickly convert it to USD using zerohash, eliminating the need for slow and expensive international wire transfers that usually cost between $25 and $50 and take one to three business days.

IBKR deepens its digital asset infrastructure

This week’s announcement is part of Interactive Brokers’ ongoing expansion into cryptocurrency trading. They first launched crypto trading in 2021 with Bitcoin and Ethereum, and have since added more options like Solana and XRP. In February 2026, they added perpetual futures contracts from Coinbase Derivatives. Interactive Brokers uses two trusted, regulated companies to securely hold customer crypto: Paxos Trust Company, overseen by New York’s financial regulators, and zerohash, a registered money services business also authorized by New York.

This change positions IBKR to directly compete with cryptocurrency exchanges, especially for traders who want to access both traditional investments and digital assets. Traditional financial firms are also increasing their involvement in crypto – for example, Morgan Stanley plans to offer crypto trading through E-Trade in 2026, showing they’re quickly adding these features.

A single platform for multi-asset portfolios

Interactive Brokers provides investment services to a wide range of clients, including individual investors, hedge funds, and financial advisors, in over 170 markets worldwide. As a member of the S&P 500, the company is known for its low fees and access to many different markets. Its new portfolio transfer feature allows users to easily move their crypto holdings to Interactive Brokers, benefiting from lower trading costs and seamless access to traditional investments—all without the usual tax implications or delays of selling and transferring assets.

Traders are increasingly using perpetual crypto futures because they offer long-term investment opportunities and more trading options, explained Galik during the February launch of Coinbase Derivatives. Now, with the new portfolio transfer feature, traders can easily move their current crypto assets onto the platform. As reported earlier this year, Coinbase’s introduction of stablecoin-funded accounts demonstrates its commitment to building crypto directly into the foundation of its long-term business.

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2026-03-25 21:00