Interactive Brokers sees surge in trading activity in April
Interactive Brokers gains 3.71M clients
Interactive Brokers, a global leader in automated electronic trading, reported strong financial and operational results for April 2025, emphasizing continued growth in trading activity and client engagement.
According to the company’s press release, Daily Average Revenue Trades (DARTs) totaled 3.818 million, representing a 63% increase compared to April 2024 and a 10% rise over March 2025.
One of the key financial indicators was total client equity, which reached $588.1 billion — 28% higher year-over-year and 3% above the previous month. This signals a high client retention rate and a steady inflow of new users.
Credit activity and investor behavior
Despite a 9% month-over-month decline in margin loan balances, the total stood at $58.2 billion, still 15% higher than in April of the previous year — indicating continued interest in leveraged trading strategies.
Meanwhile, client credit balances rose to $132.8 billion, including $5 billion in FDIC-insured bank deposit sweeps. This figure reflects a 26% year-over-year increase and a 6% monthly growth, suggesting a more cautious investor stance and readiness to seize market opportunities.
Client base expansion and commission structure
Interactive Brokers’ client base expanded to 3.71 million accounts, up 32% compared to April 2024. This growth underscores the platform’s strong appeal among both retail and institutional traders.
In April, the average cleared commissionable order cost $2.75, including $2.16 for stocks, $3.63 for equity options, and $3.75 for futures.
Transparency, cost efficiency, and currency diversification
Financial transparency remains a core value for IBKR. The average all-in cost of U.S. Reg-NMS stock trades for IBKR PRO clients stood at 4.1 basis points in April, slightly above the 12-month average of 3.9 basis points. Total commissions and execution costs reached $212.4 million, with $159.7 million attributed to execution costs alone.
The company also noted that its GLOBAL currency basket, used for currency risk diversification, appreciated by 0.96% in April and 1.715% year-to-date, contributing modestly to comprehensive income.
Interactive Brokers continues to strengthen its position through automation, cost control, and transparency — a solid foundation for further growth amid evolving market dynamics and client expectations.
Earlier, Interactive Brokers reported a 19% revenue increase in Q1 2025.
