Samsung Wallet adds USDC transfers for 82 million US Galaxy phones

• About 82 million US Galaxy devices running Android 13 or later are compatible at launch, according to Samsung.
• Bastion is the licensed custodian and money transmitter, with Coinbase holding the USDC as sub-custodian through Coinbase Prime Vault.
• Users will be able to send USDC to outside crypto wallets with no Samsung fee, or to bank accounts in more than 60 countries in local currency.

Samsung is putting a dollar stablecoin inside one of the most widely installed wallets in the US. In a Samsung Electronics America newsroom post dated October 7, the company said Samsung Wallet will add stablecoin access for eligible Galaxy users in the last week of October 2026, starting with USDC. Woncheol Chai, who heads the Digital Wallet Team in Samsung’s Mobile eXperience business, said sending money abroad should feel “as convenient as using the wallet already on your phone.” Samsung said users will not need a separate app or have to manage private keys.

Samsung leans on regulated partners rather than holding funds itself

Samsung’s post says it is not a bank, money transmitter or custodian. That work goes to Bastion, which said in its own release that it handles custody, per-user ledgers, identity checks, address screening and sanctions monitoring. Bastion holds a New York trust charter and has conditional OCC approval for a national trust bank charter. Coinbase acts as sub-custodian, holding the USDC in Coinbase Prime Vault. Bastion CEO Nassim Eddequiouaq said financial infrastructure “works best when people don’t have to see it.”

Eligibility is limited to US residents aged 18 or older with a Samsung Account, a compatible Galaxy device and completed identity verification and biometric setup. Every transfer requires biometric approval on a registered device. Samsung said USDC will be the default dollar stablecoin under its “Buy Stablecoin” option.

Solana and Sui both claim a piece of the rails

Samsung names Solana and Sui as partners providing blockchain network support, and Bastion’s release says the same. The Solana Foundation’s announcement frames the deal as Samsung choosing Solana, while some early reports credited Sui alone, which led to conflicting headlines overnight. Based on the Samsung and Bastion releases, both networks are in the service, though Samsung has not said how transfers will be split between them. Solana Foundation president Lily Liu said the partnership “puts digital dollars into everyday life.”

The Solana Foundation also said stablecoin supply on Solana is up nearly 20% year over year and that the network has processed more than $5.25 trillion in stablecoin volume so far in 2026.

Remittances first, tap-to-pay later

At launch, the feature covers transfers. Samsung said sending USDC to compatible external wallets or exchange accounts carries no Samsung fee, though recipient platforms may charge their own. Bank transfers to more than 60 countries carry fees that vary by destination and amount, and the app shows the fee and estimated delivery time before the user confirms. Samsung and Bastion both said paying online and tapping a Galaxy phone in stores are planned, with more markets to follow subject to local rules. Neither gave dates.

The CCS read. The stablecoin race is shifting from issuance to distribution, and an operating system wallet on tens of millions of phones is about as direct a channel as exists. The structure matters as much as the reach: Samsung keeps the user relationship while a chartered custodian and Coinbase carry the regulatory load, a template other consumer platforms can copy without becoming money transmitters. For Circle, a default slot in Samsung Wallet is valuable shelf space for USDC. For Solana and Sui, sharing the rails means the real scorecard will be onchain transfer data once the feature is live, not press releases.

Watch the “A New Era for Money” panel on the OKX Main Stage at 2:20 pm Singapore time today, where Samsung Wallet’s Wonseok Baek is scheduled to join the Solana Foundation’s Vibhu Norby, then the late October rollout and which chain carries most early volume. Follow all our TOKEN2049 coverage, and read how World Liberty is pushing USD1 into online checkout.