Samsung SDS, the IT services arm of Samsung Group, is exploring stablecoin infrastructure, digital asset systems, and AI-based payment models with Dunamu, operator of Upbit, one of South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges.
Lee Jun-hee, CEO of Samsung SDS, announced the discussions on July 30, 2026, during the company’s Q2 earnings call. The announcement follows a May 2026 investment in which Samsung Securities, Samsung SDS, and Samsung Card collectively purchased a 4% stake in Dunamu, the parent company of Upbit.
“We have already secured differentiated business capabilities in digital asset infrastructure through the Korea Securities Depository’s tokenized securities platform project and through end-to-end validation of the full stablecoin process from issuance to settlement,” Lee said in the earnings call transcript.
Samsung SDS posted 3.72 trillion Korean won (approximately $2.6 billion) in Q2 revenue, up 5.9% year over year. The company’s cloud business generated a 17% revenue increase, with external cloud business revenue jumping 75% in the same period.
Infrastructure Expansion Plans
The stablecoin discussions align with Samsung SDS’s broader investment in digital infrastructure. The company currently operates 110 megawatts of AI infrastructure capacity and plans to expand to 230 megawatts by 2029 and 800 megawatts by 2031.
Samsung SDS emphasized the strategic rationale for combining capabilities with Dunamu. “By combining Samsung SDS’s IT services, cloud, and security capabilities with Dunamu’s blockchain expertise, we aim to lead this market,” according to the Q2 earnings transcript.
The discussions cover stablecoin infrastructure, digital asset systems, and AI-based payment models, though Samsung SDS and Dunamu did not disclose specific details about the scope of potential products or services, timelines for implementation, or which stablecoins or payment mechanisms are under consideration.
The partnership discussions come days after Samsung Electronics announced plans to add stablecoin support to Samsung Wallet. Samsung SDS has prior experience with digital asset infrastructure through its work on the Korea Securities Depository’s tokenized securities platform.
