Samsung Electronics America said eligible Galaxy users in the U.S. will be able to send USDC directly through Samsung Wallet starting in the last week of October. At launch, the feature will cover 82 million Galaxy devices in the United States that are compatible with Samsung Wallet, according to the company.
Samsung had previewed stablecoin support for Samsung Wallet at its Galaxy Unpacked event in London in July. The on-screen demo at the time showed USDC, but Samsung did not disclose the blockchain network, partners, or launch timing. The Oct. 7 news release filled in those details, including the rollout schedule, partner structure, and fee model.
Transfers to crypto wallets and bank accounts
According to the release, users will be able to send USDC from Samsung Wallet directly to compatible overseas cryptocurrency wallets. Samsung said it will not charge a transfer fee for those transactions, although the receiving wallet or exchange may impose its own charges. Transfer speed will depend on blockchain network conditions.
Users will also be able to send funds to eligible bank accounts in more than 60 countries. Recipients will receive local currency and will not need a crypto wallet. Samsung said this option carries a fee, with the amount determined by the destination country and the transfer size. The app will display the fee before the user submits the transaction.
Eligibility requirements
The feature is limited to U.S. residents age 18 or older. Users must have a Samsung account, a device compatible with Samsung Wallet, and Android 13 or later. They must also complete account registration, identity verification, and biometric setup.
Samsung said it may add stablecoin payments for online and in-store purchases later and may expand the service to other markets depending on local regulations.
Bastion handles custody and payments infrastructure
Samsung said it is not a bank, money transmitter, or digital asset custodian, and does not directly handle user funds. The cross-border payments framework is being provided by Bastion, which Samsung described as a stablecoin custody and infrastructure provider regulated by U.S. financial authorities.
Bastion has appointed Coinbase as sub-custodian, and the USDC held within Samsung Wallet will be stored in Coinbase Prime Vault. Samsung said blockchain support for the service comes from partners including Solana and Sui.
Statements from Samsung and Solana Foundation
Woncheol Chai, executive vice president and head of the digital wallet team in Samsung Electronics' Mobile eXperience business, said: "Stablecoins have the potential to make moving money around the world faster and easier, and we want Galaxy users to access those benefits without dealing with the complexity of traditional crypto tools."
The Solana Foundation also issued a news release through PR Newswire the same day. Solana Foundation President Lily Liu said stablecoins have proven their technical viability over the past decade, and what has been missing is a path to mainstream users. The foundation also said stablecoin transaction volume on the Solana network has exceeded $5.25 trillion so far this year.