Samsung Wallet offers USDC to eligible US Galaxy users, a feature announced on October 7 and scheduled for the last week of October across 82 million compatible devices, according to Samsung's announcement. You can buy, hold and send USDC inside the app without installing a separate crypto app or managing private keys yourself.
What you can do in Samsung Wallet
USDC is the first supported stablecoin and appears as the default dollar stablecoin when you tap "Buy Stablecoin". Infrastructure and blockchain network support come from separate partners, including Solana and Sui.
- Send USDC to compatible third-party crypto wallets or exchange accounts, including internationally, with no Samsung transfer fee
- Send money to eligible bank accounts in more than 60 countries, with funds delivered in the recipient's local currency
- Bank transfer fees vary by destination country and amount and are shown in the app before you confirm
- Recipient wallet providers may charge their own fees, and transfers to sanctioned jurisdictions are prohibited
Samsung says future capabilities may include paying with stablecoins online or by tapping a Galaxy device in store, followed by potential expansion into additional markets in line with local regulation.
Who handles the funds
Bastion, a licensed stablecoin custodian and infrastructure provider overseen by US financial regulators, runs the accounts and the cross-border payment framework. Coinbase acts as official sub-custodian and safeguards all USDC in Samsung Wallet via Coinbase Prime Vault.
Samsung states it is not a bank, money transmitter or digital asset custodian and does not hold customer funds. The Galaxy device acts as the secure gateway, and every transfer requires biometric authentication on the registered device.
Bastion holds a New York trust charter through Bastion Platforms Trust Company, LLC and has preliminary conditional approval from the OCC for a national trust bank charter. Its backers include Andreessen Horowitz and Coinbase Ventures.
Eligibility requirements
- US resident, 18 or older, with a Samsung Account
- Galaxy device compatible with Samsung Wallet, running Android 13 or higher
- Account registration, identity verification and biometric authentication setup are required
The Coinbase partnership
The launch extends the Samsung-Coinbase collaboration, following the addition of Samsung Pay as a payment option in the Coinbase app and access to Coinbase One benefits through Samsung Wallet.
"Sending money abroad should feel as convenient as using the wallet already on your phone," said Woncheol Chai, EVP and Head of the Digital Wallet Team at Samsung Electronics' MX Business, in the October 7 press release.