Global online brokerage Interactive Brokers (Nasdaq: IBKR) officially announced on October 13 the launch of a cryptocurrency staking service for eligible clients, initially offering Ethereum (ETH). Powered by cryptocurrency infrastructure provider Zero Hash for technology and custody support, the service not only lowers the barrier of entry by eliminating the native validator requirement of 32 ETH but also enables clients to earn compounded rewards, further expanding traditional brokerages' presence in on-chain yield opportunities.
(Prior context: Interactive Brokers now supports all three major AIs: use Claude, ChatGPT, and Grok free of charge to help you pick stocks, trade options, and manage risk)
(Background: Interactive Brokers IBKR is now offering cryptocurrency trading to individual investors in Europe! Trade 11 assets including Bitcoin and Ethereum on a single platform.)
Traditional U.S. stock brokerage giants are taking another key step toward decentralized finance yields. Global leading online brokerage Interactive Brokers (hereinafter referred to as IBKR) officially announced on October 13, 2026, a statement launching a cryptocurrency staking service for eligible clients, initially supporting Ethereum’s native asset, ETH, with plans to expand via its established financial interface to provide investors with on-chain passive income opportunities.
No 32 ETH threshold! One-click participation in compounding accumulation from the backend dashboard.
Under Ethereum’s native consensus mechanism, individuals setting up independent validator nodes must lock up at least 32 ETH, creating a significant barrier for retail investors or institutional funds. IBKR’s newly launched staking architecture eliminates this restriction, allowing qualified clients to participate in staking with any amount, removing the requirement for large upfront capital commitments.
Eligible clients can directly submit staking or unstaking requests through the Staking Dashboard within the Client Portal and track the status of their funds at any time. According to official information, staking rewards will be automatically credited to clients’ accounts in additional ETH and will automatically compound during the staking period.
Fee cap of 30%, with customers guaranteed at least 70% of network rewards
Regarding the fee structure, according to the client agreement supplement disclosed by IBKR, the combined service fees charged by the technology provider Zero Hash and IBKR shall not exceed 30% of the total staking rewards. This means investors can realistically receive at least 70% or more of the Ethereum network staking rewards.
IBKR CEO Milan Galik compared this new product to the company’s long-standing Stock Yield Enhancement Program (stock lending service). He emphasized that the company has always been committed to providing clients with diverse tools, aiming to help investors earn additional returns through compliant and convenient channels while holding assets long-term.
Assets are not protected by SIPC! Technology is custodied by Zero Hash and safeguards against penalty risks.
Investors should pay special attention to the asset custody and security terms. IBKR clearly states that the company does not directly custody cryptocurrency assets nor operate blockchain validation nodes itself, but merely serves as a platform gateway. The custody relationship for client assets is established directly between the client and the licensed custodian, Zero Hash LLC.
Therefore, digital assets held at Zero Hash are not protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), and in the event of extreme risk to the third-party custodian, investors will not have access to the bankruptcy protection mechanisms available for traditional securities accounts. Additionally, the official notice warns that this service remains subject to on-chain inherent risks, including the unbonding waiting period, Ethereum market price volatility, and potential slashing penalties if a node fails.
Some U.S. states are restricted, while traditional brokers steadily expand their crypto presence.
In terms of availability, staking functionality is primarily restricted based on the customer’s registration jurisdiction and local regulations; users in certain U.S. states with stricter cryptocurrency regulations (such as California, Maryland, New Jersey, and Wisconsin) may initially face access limitations.
Previously, Interactive Brokers has gradually supported direct trading of approximately 20 major cryptocurrencies and stablecoin deposit and withdrawal functions. By partnering with Zero Hash to introduce "Staking-as-a-Service," traditional mainstream financial institutions are continuing to integrate compliant crypto wealth management features into their existing trading ecosystems, meeting the diverse asset allocation needs of high-net-worth clients across markets.
