Everbright Securities has launched an Ethereum staking service through Zerohash.

Interactive Brokers launched an Ethereum staking service through Zerohash

On October 13th, Interactive Brokers announced that eligible customers of IBKR LLC can now use this broker to stake Ethereum. The staking service is provided by Zerohash, a cryptocurrency infrastructure provider. According to Crypto.news, this announcement came from the broker, which has over $903 billion in customer assets and serves more than 5 million clients worldwide. Panews also reported this news on the same day, citing reports from Solid Intel.

On October 13th, 2026, Interactive Brokers introduced an Ethereum staking service for eligible IBKR LLC customers. Zerohash is responsible for providing this service. Staking requests are managed through the broker’s customer portal, and the rewards obtained will be added to the staked cryptocurrency balance. Rewards continue to grow at compound interest rates as long as the position remains staked.

Key facts

1. Service launch and provider: On October 13th, 2026, Interactive Brokers announced the introduction of an Ethereum staking service for eligible IBKR LLC customers. Zerohash provides this service, according to Crypto.news.

2. Company size: The broker reports having over $903 billion in customer assets, serving more than 5 million clients, and being a component stock of the S&P 500 index.

3. Reward mechanism: According to the announcement, the rewards obtained will be added to the staked cryptocurrency balance, and they will grow at compound interest rates as long as the position remains staked.

4. Supported assets: IBKR lists 20 digital assets that can be traded, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Chainlink, Aave, and Dogecoin.

5. Media coverage: Panews reported on this announcement on October 13th, citing information from Solid Intel. The provider’s name was also mentioned as ZeroHash.

How does the staking feature fit into IBKR’s crypto ecosystem?

The introduction of this staking service is part of the ongoing efforts to develop a comprehensive crypto product line over the past year. Before the staking feature was introduced, Interactive Brokers already allowed customers to transfer their existing crypto positions to their platform. According to Crypto.news’ report on March 25th, eligible customers can transfer supported assets directly from external wallets to the crypto accounts associated with IBKR, without needing to sell those assets first. The assets that can be transferred include Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.

The feature for depositing stablecoins was introduced earlier. According to a report dated January 16th, Zerohash processed USDC deposits across the Ethereum, Solana, and Base networks. These tokens were converted into US dollars and credited to clients’ accounts. Support for RLUSD and PayPal USD was announced during the week of January 19th. IBKR does not charge any deposit fees, while Zerohash charges a 0.30% conversion fee, with a minimum fee of $1 per transaction. A announcement dated July 14th introduced the ability to withdraw funds by automatically converting US dollars into USDC, PYUSD, or RLUSD. Additionally, nine new tokens were added through Zerohash, and three tokens were added through Paxos. The company stated that the availability of these services depends on the country/region where the clients reside. Customers from the UK and Ireland cannot use this service for bidirectional stablecoin deposits.

Transaction costs have also been announced. According to a March report, the commission ranges from 0.12% to 0.18% of the transaction value. The minimum fee per order is $1.75, and the pricing does not include any additional spreads or commissions.

Zerohash is currently applying for a national trust license in parallel with its efforts to obtain federal banking authorization. According to a report by Crypto.news on August 26th, Zerohash submitted its second application for a trust bank license. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) recorded this application on August 19th. If approved, the proposed “Zerohash National Trust Bank” will be located in Asheville, North Carolina, and will operate under a holding company structure. This application seeks permission from regulatory authorities to establish a trust business.

According to reports, OCC’s records show that the agency received its first application on March 2nd, and it was rejected on July 17th. For the second application, the regulatory authorities established a public comment period, which ended on September 17th. By the time of this report, the second application had been accepted. According to company documents, Zerohash’s current regulatory arrangements include a licensed deposit-free trust company in North Carolina, as well as licenses as a money transfer service and a BitLicense in New York state.

Other crypto product developments

In addition to spot and pledge offerings, IBKR launched nano Bitcoin and nano Ether futures contracts on February 10th. These contracts expire monthly, with perpetual contracts ranging from 0.01 Bitcoin to 0.10 Ethereum. Except for the scheduled exchange maintenance hours from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET on Fridays, these contracts are available for trading around the clock. The eligibility for trading varies by jurisdiction.

On May 14th, the company introduced an integrated forecasting market interface that connects Kalshi, CME Group, and ForecastEx. This interface allows customers to search for similar contracts, compare prices and fees, and trade between different venues. The system will automatically select the venue offering the best net price. The company stated that this product will focus on election results, climate events, and economic indicators. Contracts from Kalshi and CME will be added gradually, and forecasts related to U.S. election results will only be available for trading by qualified U.S. residents.

Why it’s important

For customers who already hold Ethereum in their brokerage accounts, the staking feature allows these idle positions to generate income within the same platform where stocks, options, and futures are traded. This also narrows the gap between full-service brokers that offer compliant staking services and native cryptocurrency platforms, especially given that large asset management companies are promoting the adoption of staking within mainstream fund structures. This feature enables IBKR to keep crypto assets on its platform, preventing customers from transferring coins to external staking services. This is crucial for companies whose revenue comes from cryptocurrency trading and related services.

Things to note

OCC’s handling of Zerohash’s second application for a national trust bank is a particularly important development to keep an eye on, as the decision to approve or reject this application will determine the regulatory framework under which IBKR’s staking services operate. Currently, IBKR itself has indicated that the availability of this service depends on the relevant subsidiaries and the customer’s country of residence. Therefore, the actual implementation beyond the initial IBKR LLC group will be another sign of progress.

Frequently asked questions

Who can stake Ethereum through Interactive Brokers?

Customers of IBKR LLC are the initial users of this service. According to company announcements, the availability of this service depends on the relevant subsidiaries and the customer’s country of residence, as reported by Crypto.news. Customers manage their staking requests through the staking dashboard available on the customer portal.

How are staking rewards distributed through Interactive Brokers?

According to the announcement, the rewards received will be added to the customer’s pledged cryptocurrency balance, and their value will continue to grow through compound interest while the position remains pledged. Customers can use the same customer portal used for brokerage services to track their pending activities.

What role does Zerohash play in IBKR Ethereum pledging?

Zerohash provides pledging services, while Interactive Brokers is responsible for handling customer requests, tracking activities, and generating reports. According to Crypto.news, Zerohash has also submitted its second application for a national trust bank license to the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, with the application dated August 19th.

Which cryptocurrencies can Interactive Brokers customers trade?

The IBKR announcement lists 20 supported digital assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Chainlink, Aave, and Dogecoin. The broker also offers services such as depositing stablecoin funds, transferring funds to external crypto wallets, access to Coinbase Derivatives nanoscale futures, and prediction market trading privileges.

What are the differences between the two reports released today?

There are only slight differences in scope. Crypto.news published the full announcement along with a description of the company’s history in the crypto industry, listing 20 supported digital assets and mentioning Zerohash as a pledging provider. Panews reported on this announcement in its market newsletter on October 13th, citing information from Solid Intel, and incorrectly spelling the provider as ZeroHash. Neither report provided any details regarding the date of eligibility for customers, beyond what is mentioned in the initial IBKR LLC announcement.