Samsung sets late-October launch for USDC transfers
Samsung said on Oct. 7 that eligible Galaxy users in the U.S. will be able to send USDC from Samsung Wallet starting in the last week of October. At launch, the feature will be available across 82 million compatible U.S. Galaxy devices, according to the company, and USDC will be the first stablecoin supported in the wallet.
Samsung said it will not charge a fee when users send USDC to external crypto wallets abroad, although the receiving wallet or exchange may apply its own charges. Delivery times will vary depending on network conditions.
Recipients who do not have a crypto wallet can still receive funds through bank accounts in more than 60 countries, with settlement in local currency, Samsung said. Fees for bank transfers vary by destination and transfer amount, and those charges will appear in the app before the sender confirms the transaction.
Woncheol Chai, executive vice president leading Samsung’s digital wallet team, said in the company’s release that sending money overseas should feel as convenient as using the wallet already built into a user’s phone.
Custody structure and blockchain partners
Samsung said the cross-border transfer service will run on Bastion, a stablecoin custodian that is licensed and subject to U.S. regulatory oversight. Bastion has named Coinbase as its sub-custodian, so all USDC held in the wallet will be kept through Coinbase Prime Vault.
The company said it does not hold customer funds itself. Instead, accounts, custody and money movement are handled by regulated partners rather than Samsung directly. Transfers will require biometric authentication on a registered device.
For blockchain network support, Samsung said it is working with separate partners, including Solana and Sui. The Solana Foundation said Samsung Wallet and Samsung Pay will carry stablecoins running on Solana. The Sui Foundation said Samsung Wallet selected Sui as its blockchain infrastructure partner for USDC.
Lily Liu, president of the Solana Foundation, said in that release that Samsung’s decision brings digital dollars into everyday use through one of the world’s most trusted technology brands.
Eligibility and rollout conditions
Samsung said the service will be limited to eligible U.S. residents age 18 or older who hold a Samsung Account and use a Galaxy device running Android 13 or later. Users must also register, verify their identity and enable biometrics.
The company described the launch as the next chapter in its work with Coinbase. In 2025, Samsung Pay began rolling out as a payment option inside the Coinbase app, Samsung said.
What may come next
Samsung said future capabilities may include paying with stablecoins online or tapping a device in stores, followed by possible expansion into additional markets.
As a point of comparison, Block’s Cash App began rolling out USDC support to its nearly 60 million users in May.