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Interactive Brokers for crypto: real coins, regulated custody

Interactive Brokers offers genuine cryptocurrency ownership, not CFD exposure, through its Crypto account, available to eligible retail and institutional clients. You can buy and hold Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), and a small selection of other major tokens directly in your IBKR account alongside stocks, ETFs, bonds, and forex positions. This multi-asset approach is a genuine differentiator: IBKR is one of very few regulated broker-dealers that provide real crypto ownership alongside full-service securities brokerage.

Custody and safety

IBKR's crypto range is provided through a partnership with regulated crypto custodians, with assets held in segregated accounts separate from IBKR's own balance sheet. Unlike unregulated offshore exchanges, Interactive Brokers is a publicly listed company regulated by the SEC (US), FINRA, FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), and 8+ additional authorities globally. The level of counterparty risk is materially lower than trading on an unregulated crypto exchange.

Trading costs

Crypto trades at IBKR carry a commission of 0.12-0.18% of the trade value (minimum USD 1.75, maximum 1%), depending on monthly volume. This is competitive with mid-tier crypto exchanges like Coinbase Advanced and considerably cheaper than eToro's ~1% spread. There is no spread markup on the underlying price, you trade at the prevailing market price plus the transparent commission.

Platforms

Crypto is available on Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR's Client Portal, and the IBKR Mobile app. The TWS crypto integration lets traders manage crypto positions alongside equity and FX portfolios in one unified view, which is useful for portfolio-level risk management.

Coin selection and limitations

IBKR's crypto selection is intentionally narrow, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, and a handful of others, reflecting the firm's focus on regulatory safety over breadth. There is no staking, DeFi access, or self-custody transfer. Crypto withdrawals to external wallets are not currently available. US clients cannot trade crypto 24/7 due to regulatory restrictions.

Bottom line

Interactive Brokers is the strongest choice for sophisticated investors who want regulated real cryptocurrency ownership as part of a multi-asset portfolio without opening a separate crypto exchange account. The selection is narrow, but the regulatory framework and cost structure are hard to match among broker-dealers.