Samsung has integrated a stablecoin account directly into its mobile wallet, making USDC on the Solana network available to a massive segment of its hardware users. This feature is now live for eligible Galaxy users in the United States, targeting approximately 82 million compatible devices [2][3]. By embedding these accounts into the Samsung Wallet app, the company is placing digital dollars alongside traditional credit cards and digital boarding passes, removing the need for users to download third-party crypto applications or manage complex private keys [2].

The service officially launched on Thursday, following an initial announcement on October 7 [2]. It is restricted to users who are at least 18 years old, possess a Samsung Account, and own a device running Android 13 or later [2]. Notably, the service is not available to residents of New York [3].

Hardware integration and infrastructure

The technical setup for this integration relies on partnerships with established infrastructure providers rather than Samsung managing the assets directly. Bastion, a licensed stablecoin custodian, handles the account and transfer infrastructure [2]. Coinbase serves as the sub-custodian, holding the USDC within its Coinbase Prime Vault [2]. This arrangement builds on an existing relationship where Samsung Pay users could already fund Coinbase accounts as of October 2025 [2].

By using the Solana network, Samsung is opting for a blockchain known for high throughput to handle these transactions. The goal is to provide a user experience that mimics traditional digital banking while utilizing blockchain rails [3]. Samsung has clarified that these accounts are crypto wallets, not bank accounts, which is an important distinction for users regarding regulatory protections and the nature of the holdings [3].

Transaction costs and cross-border utility

Users can move USDC within the ecosystem with varying fee structures. There is no Samsung transfer fee for sending USDC to other Samsung Wallet users or to compatible external crypto wallets [2]. However, other service providers involved in the transaction may still charge their own fees [3]. For those looking to fund their accounts, topping up with a credit card through Samsung Pay incurrs a 4% fee [3].

One of the primary use cases highlighted by Samsung is the ability to send money to qualifying bank accounts in more than 60 countries [2]. In these instances, recipients may receive the funds in their local currency [3]. Fees for these international transfers vary depending on the destination country [2]. To encourage initial adoption, Samsung is offering a $25 USDC incentive for new users who complete a first top-up of $50 or more [3].

Global regulatory context

While Samsung expands its digital asset footprint in the U.S., other major markets are seeing shifts in how these assets are governed. In France, the National Assembly recently rejected the revenue section of the 2027 state budget by a vote of 458–0 [1]. This rejection effectively sidelined several crypto-related amendments that were previously adopted by lawmakers [1].

One of the sidelined French proposals included a tax on gains from crypto-to-stablecoin conversions, which was adopted on October 16 [1]. Another amendment would have required taxpayers to disclose self-custodied crypto holdings of at least 100,000 euros (roughly $112,000) [1]. Additionally, lawmakers had proposed increasing penalties from 10,000 euros to 50,000 euros for crypto platforms that fail to provide information to tax authorities [1]. While these measures fell away with the budget rejection, they could be reintroduced when the Senate begins debating the finance bill on November 20 [1].

Future expansion and mobile payments

Samsung has indicated that the current launch is a starting point for broader utility. The company plans to explore the use of stablecoins for both online and in-store payments [2]. This would move the wallet beyond a simple storage and transfer tool into a functional payment method at the point of sale.

The expansion into additional global markets is also on the roadmap, though Samsung noted this will be subject to local regulations [2]. The strategy appears focused on reducing the complexity of traditional crypto tools to reach a mainstream audience that may be intimidated by standard decentralized finance interfaces [2]. By managing the backend custody through Bastion and Coinbase, Samsung is positioning the Galaxy device as a bridge between the existing financial system and blockchain-based assets.

The next significant milestone for the service will be the potential rollout of merchant payment features, while the French Senate is expected to examine the revenue section of their budget on November 23 [1][2].

Sources

1. Cointelegraph, France rejects budget revenue sidelines crypto amendments, https://cointelegraph.com/news/france-rejects-budget-revenue-sidelines-crypto-amendments?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound

2. The Block, Samsung Wallet launches USDC accounts on Solana for US Galaxy users, https://www.theblock.co/news/business/2026-11-05-samsung-wallet-launches-usdc-accounts-solana-us-galaxy-users-434523

3. Decrypt, Samsung Wallet Adds USDC on Solana, https://decrypt.co/382586/stablecoins-samsung-wallet-adds-usdc-solana

Charts and the full source list: https://medium.com/@tomasrada8080/samsung-wallet-integrates-native-solana-usdc-for-82-million-users-2dcb60e7f667