Samsung Wallet to add USDC transfers for US Galaxy users

Samsung plans to add USDC transfers to Samsung Wallet in the last week of October, giving eligible U.S. Galaxy users a way to send money abroad from an app already on their phones. The Samsung announcement says the service will reach 82 million compatible devices. USDC is a stablecoin, a type of cryptocurrency designed to track the value of a currency—in this case, the U.S. dollar.

Who can use Samsung Wallet’s USDC feature?

At launch, the feature is for eligible U.S. residents aged 18 or older with a Samsung Account and a compatible Galaxy device running Android 13 or higher, Samsung says. Users must register, verify their identity and set up biometric authentication before sending money. The company says customers can send USDC to compatible crypto wallets or exchange accounts internationally, or to qualifying bank accounts in more than 60 countries. Bank recipients can receive local currency without needing a crypto wallet.

Samsung says it will not charge for USDC transfers to compatible external wallets. The recipient’s wallet provider or exchange may still charge a fee, and transfer speed depends on network conditions. Bank transfers do carry fees, which vary by destination and amount; Samsung says the app will show the fee and estimated delivery time before the sender confirms.

Which companies will handle the transfers?

Samsung says licensed stablecoin provider Bastion will power the payment service, while Coinbase will hold USDC through its Coinbase Prime Vault custody service. Custody means holding assets on a customer’s behalf. Samsung says registered devices will require biometric checks to start transfers, and that it does not hold customer funds.

The company names Solana and Sui among the partners that will provide infrastructure and blockchain support. It has not described how those networks will be used for each transfer. Coinbase separately confirmed its role in the partnership announcement, saying USDC will appear as the default dollar stablecoin when users top up their balance.

When will the service reach users outside the U.S.?

Samsung has not set a date for expansion beyond the United States. It says any future rollout will depend on regulations in each market. The company also says later versions may let eligible users pay with stablecoins online or tap a Galaxy device in stores, but those options are not part of the announced October launch.

Sources and documents

• Samsung announcement — samsung-newsroom-production.barbariangroup.com
• partnership announcement — coinbase.com