Samsung Wallet rolled out stablecoin accounts to eligible U.S. Galaxy users, enabling them to buy, hold, send, and receive Circle’s USDC on Solana without managing private keys or downloading separate crypto applications.
The feature integrates stablecoin functionality directly into Samsung Wallet alongside credit cards and boarding passes. Users can top up accounts with credit cards at a 4% fee or link bank accounts. First-time users who deposit $50 or more receive a $25 USDC reward.
Samsung announced the feature on October 7, tapping Solana as the network for USDC transfers. The service launched Thursday and is available to U.S. residents 18 and older, with the exception of New York. Samsung estimates the stablecoin accounts reach approximately 82 million compatible Galaxy devices across the United States.
Infrastructure and custody
Samsung built the service with Bastion, a licensed stablecoin custodian and infrastructure provider, and Coinbase, which serves as the sub-custodian through Coinbase Prime Vault. Users can send USDC to other Samsung Wallet users in the U.S. and to compatible external wallets without incurring Samsung transfer fees.
Recipients can convert USDC to local currency and receive payouts in over 60 countries. The service requires Android 13 or later.
Mainstream entry point
Lily Liu, president of the Solana Foundation, said the launch addresses a long-standing gap in stablecoin adoption. “For a decade, stablecoins have proved the technology works. What they lacked was a way to reach the mainstream,” Liu said.
Woncheol Chai, who leads the digital wallet team at Samsung’s mobile business, framed the integration as a simplification of the user experience. “Stablecoins have the potential to make moving money around the world faster and easier, and we want Galaxy users to be able to take advantage of that without having to navigate the complexity of traditional crypto tools. Solana helps us bring that experience to Samsung’s scale,” Chai said.
Future expansion
Samsung plans to explore online and in-store stablecoin payments using the Wallet feature. The company intends to expand the service to additional markets, subject to local regulatory approval. No timeline for these expansions was disclosed.
