Financial and Business News

Interactive Brokers Sees Retail Trading Rise as Daily Trades Approach 4.4 Million in February

Monday, 02/03/2026 | 17:38 GMT by Tareq Sikder
  • Daily trades dip month on month, but annualized cleared DARTs per account remain 204.
  • Retail client accounts hit 4.6 million in February, a 2% rise from January.
Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. released data for February 2026, highlighting continued growth in retail client activity. The firm recorded daily average revenue trades of 4.366 million, marking a 21% increase compared with February 2025, though slightly down by 1% from January 2026.

The total number of client accounts reached 4.646 million, up 31% year-over-year and 2% compared with the previous month. Based on these figures, the annualized average of cleared DARTs per account stood at 204.

IBKR February Commissions and Trade Costs

Average commission per cleared order was reported at $2.61. This included $1.95 per stock trade, reflecting an average of 749 shares traded, $3.77 per equity options order based on 6.5 contracts, and $4.04 per futures order, averaging 2.9 contracts.

For IBKR PRO clients trading U.S. Reg.-NMS stocks, the average trade size was $24,009. The total all-in cost for these trades in February was 1.3 basis points, which included 0.8 basis points in commissions and fees and 0.5 basis points in execution costs relative to the volume-weighted average price.

US Retail Forex Deposits Rise Slightly in December

Looking at broader trends in US retail forex , deposits across major platforms rose 0.8 percent in December 2025 to $499.9 million, ending three consecutive months of decline. Despite the modest recovery, levels remained below the $530.1 million peak seen in March 2025, highlighting ongoing challenges for retail currency traders.

Within this environment, Interactive Brokers led the rebound. Forex deposits on the platform increased 20.8 percent to $32.5 million, reversing a November pullback. Total client accounts reached 4.4 million, up 32 percent year-over-year, while client equity rose 37 percent to $779.9 billion.

Trading volumes also grew, with options up 27 percent, futures up 22 percent, and stocks up 16 percent. The firm additionally introduced stablecoin funding for U.S. clients, reducing account funding times and supporting faster access to capital.

In addition to its traditional trading offerings, the broker recently added small-sized “nano” Bitcoin and Ether futures, including monthly and perpetual-style contracts, providing 24/7 crypto trading alongside stocks, options, bonds, and other products across more than 170 global markets.

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. released data for February 2026, highlighting continued growth in retail client activity. The firm recorded daily average revenue trades of 4.366 million, marking a 21% increase compared with February 2025, though slightly down by 1% from January 2026.

The total number of client accounts reached 4.646 million, up 31% year-over-year and 2% compared with the previous month. Based on these figures, the annualized average of cleared DARTs per account stood at 204.

IBKR February Commissions and Trade Costs

Average commission per cleared order was reported at $2.61. This included $1.95 per stock trade, reflecting an average of 749 shares traded, $3.77 per equity options order based on 6.5 contracts, and $4.04 per futures order, averaging 2.9 contracts.

For IBKR PRO clients trading U.S. Reg.-NMS stocks, the average trade size was $24,009. The total all-in cost for these trades in February was 1.3 basis points, which included 0.8 basis points in commissions and fees and 0.5 basis points in execution costs relative to the volume-weighted average price.

US Retail Forex Deposits Rise Slightly in December

Looking at broader trends in US retail forex , deposits across major platforms rose 0.8 percent in December 2025 to $499.9 million, ending three consecutive months of decline. Despite the modest recovery, levels remained below the $530.1 million peak seen in March 2025, highlighting ongoing challenges for retail currency traders.

Within this environment, Interactive Brokers led the rebound. Forex deposits on the platform increased 20.8 percent to $32.5 million, reversing a November pullback. Total client accounts reached 4.4 million, up 32 percent year-over-year, while client equity rose 37 percent to $779.9 billion.

Trading volumes also grew, with options up 27 percent, futures up 22 percent, and stocks up 16 percent. The firm additionally introduced stablecoin funding for U.S. clients, reducing account funding times and supporting faster access to capital.

In addition to its traditional trading offerings, the broker recently added small-sized “nano” Bitcoin and Ether futures, including monthly and perpetual-style contracts, providing 24/7 crypto trading alongside stocks, options, bonds, and other products across more than 170 global markets.

Topics
retail
retail brokers
retail forex
retail FX
Interactive Brokers
InteractiveBrokers
Interactive Brokers Group
About the Author: Tareq Sikder
Tareq Sikder
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A Forex technical analyst and writer who has been engaged in financial writing for 12 years.

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