Interactive Brokers Launches Crypto Trading for Retail Investors in Europe

TLDR

Interactive Brokers has launched crypto trading for retail clients across the European Economic Area (EEA) through its regulated Ireland entity. Clients can trade 11 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Cardano, and Dogecoin, within existing brokerage accounts. Fees start at 0.12%–0.18% with 24/7 market access; trading and custody is handled by Zero Hash. The service allows clients to transfer crypto from external wallets directly into their Interactive Brokers accounts without selling first. Major traditional brokerages including Fidelity, Charles Schwab, and Morgan Stanley are also expanding their crypto offerings.

---

Interactive Brokers has officially launched crypto trading for retail investors across the European Economic Area. The rollout was announced on Tuesday and marks the brokerage’s entry into the European digital asset market.

BREAKING: $110B brokerage giant Interactive Brokers launches Bitcoin and crypto trading in Europe.

-Interactive Brokers Europe has ~450M users that just got access.

Stay in the loop Follow @TimWarrenTrades pic.twitter.com/bUKFHhnPzk

— Tim Warren (@TimWarrenTrades) March 31, 2026

The service is being offered through the firm’s Ireland-based entity, which is authorized as a crypto-asset service provider under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework.

Clients can now access 11 cryptocurrencies directly from their existing brokerage accounts. Available assets include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Cardano, and Dogecoin.

Trading and custody infrastructure is provided by Zero Hash. Fees start between 0.12% and 0.18%, and the platform offers round-the-clock access.

The crypto offering sits alongside traditional asset classes including equities, derivatives, and foreign exchange — all within a single account interface.

Interactive Brokers CEO Milan Galik had signaled the European launch during a January earnings call. He said at the time that crypto revenues were “small relative to the overall company’s revenues” but that the European debut was expected in the first quarter of 2026.

Galik also said the company plans to support client asset transfers, adding that “some crypto assets will migrate to our platform and take advantage of our superior pricing.”

The brokerage is also expanding how clients fund their accounts using stablecoins. Support currently includes USDC deposits across Ethereum, Solana, and Base networks, which are automatically converted into US dollars and credited to brokerage accounts.

Clients can also transfer supported cryptocurrencies — including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana — from external wallets directly into their Interactive Brokers-linked crypto accounts without needing to sell their holdings first.

Interactive Brokers is headquartered in the US and provides access to more than 170 global markets.

Traditional Finance Pushes Deeper Into Crypto

Interactive Brokers is not the only traditional financial firm expanding its digital asset services. Several major institutions have made moves in recent months.

Fidelity Investments now offers direct trading in four cryptocurrencies, access to crypto-linked funds, and the ability to hold digital assets in retirement accounts. It has also issued a US dollar-pegged stablecoin called Fidelity Digital Dollar.

Charles Schwab signaled plans to launch spot Bitcoin trading in January, with CEO Rick Wurster indicating the service could go live as early as April 2026.

Morgan Stanley outlined plans in January to launch a digital asset wallet in 2026 and expand crypto trading through its E*TRADE unit to support Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.

The firm had previously released guidance in October recommending crypto allocations of up to 4% in higher-risk, growth-oriented portfolios.

What This Means for European Retail Investors

For retail investors in the EEA, the Interactive Brokers launch provides a regulated path to trade crypto alongside stocks and other assets in one place.

The MiCA framework, which governs crypto-asset services across the EU, gives providers a clear compliance structure to operate within.

The platform’s 24/7 access and competitive fee structure put it in line with other regulated crypto trading services available to European investors.

Interactive Brokers said the stablecoin funding feature, initially tested in the United States, has now been extended to a broader client base.

Zero Hash, the infrastructure provider behind the Interactive Brokers crypto offering, also provides backend services for several other financial institutions operating in the digital asset space.

The post Interactive Brokers Launches Crypto Trading for Retail Investors in Europe appeared first on CoinCentral.