Interactive Brokers Opens Crypto Trading for European Retail

• Interactive Brokers has launched cryptocurrency trading for retail investors across the European Economic Area (EEA).
• Eligible clients can now trade 11 different digital assets, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, alongside traditional investments in a single account.
• The service offers competitive commissions ranging from 0.12% to 0.18% with 24/7 market access.

Expansion into the European Market

Interactive Brokers has officially extended its digital asset services to retail clients within the EEA. This rollout is facilitated through the company's Ireland-based entity, which is a registered and authorized crypto-asset service provider in the region. By integrating spot crypto trading into its existing platform, the brokerage allows investors to manage a diversified portfolio of stocks, options, futures, and currencies alongside digital assets.

Technical Details and Supported Assets

The platform provides access to 11 major cryptocurrencies, notably Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Solana (SOL), XRP (XRP), Cardano (ADA), and Dogecoin (DOGE). To ensure secure execution and storage, Interactive Brokers has partnered with Zerohash, which serves as the underlying infrastructure provider for trading and custody. Commissions are structured to be cost-effective, starting as low as 0.12% of the trade value.

Strategic Outlook and Industry Context

During a recent earnings call, CEO Milan Galik noted that while crypto revenues are currently a small fraction of the firm's total income, the company expects growth as assets migrate to its platform to benefit from superior pricing. This expansion follows a broader trend of traditional financial giants entering the crypto space:

• Fidelity Investments now offers direct crypto trading and has launched its own dollar-pegged stablecoin, FIDD.
• Charles Schwab is reportedly preparing to launch spot Bitcoin trading, potentially as early as April 2026.
• Morgan Stanley is developing a digital asset wallet for 2026 and recently suggested that high-risk portfolios could benefit from up to a 4% allocation in cryptocurrencies.