Global electronic brokerage giant Interactive Brokers led a $104 million Series D funding round for crypto infrastructure startup
Zerohash, placing the company’s valuation at $1 billion.
The investment marks a significant step in the
broker’s involvement with digital assets, as financial firms accelerate plans
to expand into the sector.
Digital assets meet tradfi in London at the fmls25
Interactive Brokers at the Center of the Deal
According to CNBC, the funding round also included investors
such as Morgan Stanley, SoFi, and funds managed by Apollo. Interactive Brokers
already uses Zerohash for crypto trading and custody services, and the two
companies plan to launch a stablecoin product.
The raise comes amid a shift in U.S. regulatory
attitudes toward crypto under President Donald Trump. The administration’s more
favorable approach contrasts with the stricter stance of former SEC Chair Gary
Gensler.
Focus on Trading, Stablecoins, and Tokenization
The change has prompted large banks to revisit digital
asset services. In April, SoFi CEO Anthony Noto told CNBC that the firm was
preparing to reintroduce crypto trading. Morgan Stanley is also close to offering
crypto trading through its E*Trade unit, with Zerohash providing the
infrastructure.
The investment bank plans to offer cryptocurrency trading to E*Trade customers through the partnership, marking another major Wall Street bank’s move into retail crypto services.
The rollout is scheduled to start in the first half of 2026 with three major cryptocurrencies—Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.
Founded in 2017, Zerohash allows banks and fintechs to offer products in crypto trading, stablecoins, and tokenization. In July, reports emerged that Interactive Brokers was considering
launching its own stablecoin to facilitate around-the-clock account funding.
The brokerage also evaluated whether to support third-party stablecoins,
depending on the credibility of their issuers.
Exploring Blockchain-based Payments
The move added Interactive Brokers to a growing list of
financial firms experimenting with blockchain-based payments under a more
supportive U.S. regulatory backdrop.
Related: Interactive Brokers Evaluating Stablecoin Launch to Enable 24/7 Client Funding: Report
Interactive Brokers currently provides crypto access through
partnerships with Paxos and Zero Hash, allowing clients to trade digital assets
directly through its platform.
Stablecoins enable users to transfer funds outside the
traditional banking system. Regulators, especially in the US, have started to
relax restrictions around their use, but critics caution that the assets could
be exploited to bypass compliance measures, including anti-money laundering
checks.
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This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.
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