Quick Verdict
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a heavily regulated broker with some of the lowest costs in the industry, and it now offers 20 cryptocurrencies alongside stocks, options, futures, and bonds in one account. It’s a strong choice if you want crypto next to the rest of your portfolio. Crypto-only traders will find the coin list short, and beginners may struggle with the platform for a while.
Key Takeaways
- Safety: Regulated in nine jurisdictions, with SIPC coverage up to $500,000 on securities and cash, but not on crypto.
- Crypto: US clients can trade 20 coins for 0.12% to 0.18% of trade value ($1.75 minimum) and move them to external wallets.
- Fees: IBKR Pro charges $0.005 per US share; IBKR Lite is commission-free on US stocks and ETFs for US residents.
- Drawbacks: A 3.1 Trustpilot score, driven by support complaints, and platforms that take time to learn.
- Safety: Regulated in nine jurisdictions, with SIPC coverage up to $500,000 on securities and cash, but not on crypto.
- Crypto: US clients can trade 20 coins for 0.12% to 0.18% of trade value ($1.75 minimum) and move them to external wallets.
- Fees: IBKR Pro charges $0.005 per US share; IBKR Lite is commission-free on US stocks and ETFs for US residents.
- Drawbacks: A 3.1 Trustpilot score, driven by support complaints, and platforms that take time to learn.
Pros
- Crypto from 0.12% per trade and no inactivity or account fees
- 175+ markets in 40 countries and territories from one account
- Wallet transfers, stablecoin funding, and Ethereum staking for eligible clients
- USD margin loans from 5.38%, well below most US brokers
- $22.3 billion in equity capital and an A- rating from S&P
Cons
- Only 20 coins in the US, 10 in the UK, and three in Hong Kong
- Crypto held with Paxos or ZeroHash isn’t covered by SIPC
- Trader Workstation has a steep learning curve
- Users report slow support and sudden account restrictions
- No card, PayPal, or e-wallet deposits
Interactive Brokers Overview
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Broker Name | Interactive Brokers |
| Year Established | 1978 |
| Headquarters Location | One Pickwick Plaza, Greenwich, CT 06830 USA |
| Regulatory Compliance | SEC and CFTC (US), FCA (UK), Central Bank of Ireland, and regulators in six other jurisdictions |
| Trading Instruments | Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, forex, bonds, mutual funds, cryptocurrencies, and prediction markets on 175+ markets in 40 countries and territories |
| Available Cryptocurrencies | Aave, Aptos, Avalanche, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Canton, Cardano, Chainlink, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Lido DAO, Litecoin, Monad, NEAR Protocol, Pax Gold, Plasma, Solana, Sui, Uniswap, and XRP |
| Account Types | Individual, joint, trust, IRA (US), advisor, and institutional; IBKR Pro pricing for all clients, IBKR Lite for US residents |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 |
| Base Currencies Supported | 23 Currencies |
| Leverage | Varies by country: up to 30:1 on major forex pairs and 20:1 on other pairs for retail CFD clients in the EU, UK, and Australia; no leveraged forex for US retail clients; US stock margin up to 2:1 under Reg T |
| Average Spreads | IBKR doesn’t publish averages; forex spreads from 0.1 pip, with commission-based pricing and no markup |
| Commission | Stocks: $0.005/share (Pro) or $0 (Lite). Crypto: 0.12% to 0.18%. Forex: 0.002% |
| Deposit Methods | Bank wire, ACH, SEPA, BACS, check; stablecoins for eligible US clients |
| Withdrawal Methods | Bank wire, ACH, SEPA, BACS, and check; eligible clients can also withdraw crypto to external wallets |
| Deposit/Withdrawal Fees | Deposits: free (stablecoin deposits carry a small conversion fee from zerohash). Withdrawals: two free per month, then $10 per USD wire, $1 per ACH, $4 per check, €1 per SEPA, and £1 per BACS transfer |
| Trading Platforms | Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Client Portal, IBKR GlobalTrader, IBKR APIs and IB Gateway, and IBKR Prediction Markets |
| Mobile App Availability | Yes, IBKR Mobile and IBKR GlobalTrader |
| Order Types | 100+ order types and algorithms, including bracket, trailing stop, and algorithmic orders |
| Execution Model | Agency execution: IBKR SmartRouting sends orders to exchanges, dark pools, and IBKR’s own trading system, backed by the IBKR BestX execution suite |
| Fund Segregation | Yes. Client assets are held apart from IBKR’s own funds; US clients get SIPC cover up to $500,000 plus excess cover up to $30 million. Crypto is held by Paxos or zerohash and isn’t covered by SIPC |
| Demo Account | Free trial and paper trading account |
| Support Channels | Phone, live chat, secure Message Center, and the IBot assistant; IBKR Campus for education |
| Support Availability | Phone: 24 hours a day, Sunday 1:00 p.m. to Friday 7:30 p.m. ET. Chat: Sunday 8:00 p.m. to Friday 8:00 p.m. ET. No support on Saturday |
Introduction
Interactive Brokers traces its roots to 1977, when Thomas Peterffy bought a seat on the American Stock Exchange, and it has been listed on Nasdaq since 2007. By September 2026, it served 5.58 million client accounts. This Interactive Brokers review focuses on what matters to crypto traders, after a year that added stablecoin funding, a longer coin list, and Ethereum staking.
Is Interactive Brokers Safe?
Yes, Interactive Brokers is safe for stocks, funds, and cash. Crypto carries one extra risk: Paxos or ZeroHash holds your coins, and SIPC doesn’t cover them.
Regulatory Compliance
Each IBKR company answers to its local regulator. You can look up the US company, Interactive Brokers LLC, on FINRA BrokerCheck (CRD 36418).
- United States: SEC and CFTC; member of FINRA and SIPC
- Canada: CIRO, which replaced IIROC in 2023
- United Kingdom: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
- European Union: Central Bank of Ireland
- Asia-Pacific: ASIC (Australia), SFC (Hong Kong), MAS (Singapore), SEBI (India), and Japan’s FSA
Investor Protection
In the US, SIPC covers up to $500,000 per client, including $250,000 in cash. IBKR adds excess coverage from Lloyd’s of London of up to $30 million per client, with a $900,000 cash limit and a $150 million cap across all clients. UK clients fall under the FSCS (up to £85,000 in limited cases), and EU clients under Ireland’s Investor Compensation Scheme (90% of a loss, up to €20,000). None of these covers crypto.
Security Features
| FEATURE | DETAILS |
|---|---|
| Two-factor login | IBKR Mobile app, SMS code, passkey, or Digital Security Card+ |
| Segregated accounts | Client assets are held apart from IBKR’s own funds |
| Withdrawal limits | Lower limits apply to accounts without two-factor login |
Privacy Practices
IBKR runs full Know Your Customer (KYC) checks under anti-money-laundering rules, so expect to upload ID and proof of address. Its privacy policy limits data sharing mainly to service providers and regulators.
Financial Strength
At the end of June 2026, IBKR held $13.9 billion more capital than regulators require, and employees and affiliates owned 73.5% of the company.
Reputation and User Feedback
User Reviews
When we checked Trustpilot on October 15, 2026, Interactive Brokers scored 3.1 out of 5 from 5,526 reviews. Opinions split sharply: 43% of reviewers gave five stars, and 29% gave one star.
Common Complaints and Praise
Top Complaints:
- Slow replies from customer service
- Accounts restricted during verification reviews
- A steep learning curve on Trader Workstation
Top Praise:
- Low commissions and margin rates
- Fast, reliable order execution
- Global markets and professional tools in one account
Trading Instruments
Available Cryptocurrencies
Interactive Brokers offers direct crypto trading, not only crypto ETFs. US clients can trade the 20 coins in the overview table around the clock, seven days a week. The list depends on where you live: EU clients get 17 coins, UK clients get 10, and Hong Kong clients get Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.
Eligible clients can also move coins to and from external wallets, including self-custody wallets, and eligible US clients can stake Ethereum. “We want clients to earn more from the assets they hold,” said Milan Galik, Chief Executive Officer of Interactive Brokers, when the firm announced staking on October 13, 2026.
Twenty coins is a short list next to large crypto exchanges, which list hundreds.
Other Trading Instruments
- Stocks and ETFs on 175+ markets
- Options and futures, including CME crypto futures
- Forex, with more than 100 currency pairs
- Bonds, mutual funds, and prediction markets
Account Types & Trading Conditions
Types of Accounts
| ACCOUNT TYPE | WHO IT’S FOR |
|---|---|
| Individual and joint | Personal investing and trading |
| IRA | US retirement savers |
| Trust | Assets held in a trust |
| Advisor and institutional | Financial advisors, funds, and companies |
Each account also picks a pricing plan. IBKR Pro, open to everyone, charges low commissions and offers better margin and interest rates. IBKR Lite, for US residents, cuts US stock and ETF commissions to zero but charges more for margin and pays less on cash.
Margin and Interest Rates
On IBKR Pro, USD margin loans cost 5.38% on balances up to $100,000 (September 2026 rates, which follow the benchmark rate). IBKR’s own comparison puts Schwab and Fidelity at 11.58% on a $25,000 loan. Lite clients pay one percentage point more. Borrowing magnifies losses, so read our guide to spot vs margin trading first.
Idle USD cash earns 3.38% on IBKR Pro, but nothing on the first $10,000, and the full rate applies only above $100,000.
Trading Platforms and Tools
Platform Comparison
All six platforms run on the same account, so you can start simple and move up later.
| PLATFORM | BEST FOR | KEY FEATURES |
|---|---|---|
| Trader Workstation (TWS) | Professional traders | Advanced charting and options tools |
| IBKR Desktop | Intermediate traders | A simpler layout than TWS |
| IBKR Mobile | Trading on the go | Full account access and crypto trading |
| Client Portal | Browser users | No download needed |
| IBKR GlobalTrader | Beginners | A simple mobile app |
| IBKR APIs and IB Gateway | Algorithmic traders | REST, Python, and FIX connections |
Trading Tools & Features
You get more than 100 order types, including bracket, trailing stop, and algorithmic orders, plus free real-time quotes on US stocks and ETFs from Cboe One and IEX.
Interactive Brokers Fees
Interactive Brokers fees are low, but the price list is longer than at most brokers.
Trading Fees
- US stocks: IBKR Pro charges $0.005 per share ($1 minimum) on the fixed plan, or from $0.0035 plus exchange fees on the tiered plan. IBKR Lite charges $0.
- Crypto: 0.18% of trade value up to $100,000 a month, falling to 0.12% above $1 million, with a $1.75 minimum capped at 1% of the trade. Accounts held with Paxos also pay $0.15 a month.
- Forex: 0.20 basis points of trade value, $2 minimum.
The crypto minimum hits small orders. A $500 Bitcoin buy costs $1.75, or 0.35%, almost double the headline rate.
The 0.18% rate applies from about $972 per order, so fewer, larger buys cost less.
Deposit and Withdrawal Fees
Deposits are free, but IBKR takes only bank transfers and checks, plus stablecoins for eligible US clients, where its partner ZeroHash charges a small conversion fee. You get two free withdrawals a month, then pay:
| METHOD | DEPOSIT FEE | WITHDRAWAL FEE (AFTER TWO FREE) |
|---|---|---|
| USD bank wire | Free | $10 |
| ACH (US) | Free | $1 |
| Check (US) | Free | $4 |
| SEPA (EUR) | Free | €1 |
| BACS (GBP) | Free | £1 |
Other Fees
- Inactivity fee: none since July 2021
- Market data: free real-time US quotes; extra bundles from $10 a month
- Currency conversion: 0.20 basis points ($2 minimum), or about 0.03% on automatic conversions
Customer Support
Phone support runs 24 hours a day from Sunday 1:00 p.m. to Friday 7:30 p.m. ET, and live chat from Sunday 8:00 p.m. to Friday 8:00 p.m. ET. Secure messages usually reach an agent within two hours, IBKR says. There’s no Saturday support and no email, and support remains the top complaint in user reviews. For learning, IBKR Campus offers free courses, webinars, and podcasts.
How to Use Interactive Brokers: Step-by-Step Guide
- Go to interactivebrokers.com and click Open Account. Existing clients use the Interactive Brokers login button.
- Choose your account type and pricing plan.
- Complete the KYC checks with your ID and proof of address.
- Turn on cryptocurrency trading permissions in your settings.
- Fund the account by bank transfer, or with stablecoins if eligible.
- Practice in your paper trading account, then place your first live trade.
Who Is Interactive Brokers Best For?
- Investors who want crypto and stocks in one account
- Active traders who want low commissions and cheap margin
- International investors who need 23 base currencies and 175+ markets
- Algorithmic traders who use APIs
It’s a weaker fit for crypto-only traders who want hundreds of altcoins, and for beginners who need hands-on help. See our best crypto brokers for simpler options.
Final Verdict
Interactive Brokers pairs strong regulation and a $22.3 billion capital base with low costs, and its crypto offer grew fast in 2026. Two details matter for crypto traders: the $1.75 minimum makes small orders expensive, and coins are outside SIPC protection. If you want crypto next to stocks and ETFs, IBKR is a strong choice. If you trade only crypto, a dedicated exchange will suit you better.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Interactive Brokers safe to use?
Yes, Interactive Brokers is safe. It’s regulated in nine jurisdictions, holds $22.3 billion in equity capital, and protects securities through SIPC and excess insurance. Crypto isn’t covered by SIPC.
- Can you buy crypto on Interactive Brokers?
Yes, you can. US clients can trade 20 coins, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP, for 0.12% to 0.18% of trade value, with a $1.75 minimum per order.
- Can you move crypto from Interactive Brokers to your own wallet?
Yes, eligible clients can send supported coins to external wallets and receive coins from them. Availability depends on your country.
- What fees does Interactive Brokers charge?
Interactive Brokers charges low trading fees and no inactivity or deposit fees. US stocks cost $0.005 per share on IBKR Pro or $0 on IBKR Lite, and withdrawals are free twice a month.
- Is Interactive Brokers good for beginners?
Only in part. IBKR GlobalTrader and the paper trading account make a gentle start possible, but Trader Workstation is complex, and support can be slow.
Our Review Methodology
At Tradelize, we follow strict editorial standards to ensure all content is accurate, unbiased, and thoroughly researched. Our reviews, guides, and articles are fact-checked by a team of experienced cryptocurrency and finance professionals, and are not influenced by advertisers or affiliate relationships. Our Trust Score methodology combines direct data scraping from official broker, exchange, and wallet websites with sentiment analysis of up to 1000 verified user reviews. This dual-source approach enables us to objectively evaluate platform features, fees, regulations, security, and customer satisfaction. We then compile comprehensive, specification-based reviews that reflect both technical details and real user experience.
Disclaimer
Trading cryptocurrencies, forex, CFDs, and other derivatives involves significant risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Leverage can amplify both gains and losses. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content on Tradelize is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Always seek professional guidance before making financial decisions. For full risk disclosures, click here.
