Galaxy users in the United States will soon be able to send USDC abroad without installing a separate crypto app. Samsung Wallet’s stablecoin integration will bring native USDC support to 82 million compatible U.S. Galaxy devices, with transfers to crypto wallets and overseas bank accounts scheduled to begin in the last week of October 2026.
Key takeaways
- USDC will be Samsung Wallet’s initial and default stablecoin.
- Samsung will charge no fee for transfers to compatible external crypto wallets.
- Bank transfers will reach eligible accounts in more than 60 countries, with fees.
- Bastion and Coinbase will handle custody; Galaxy devices will require biometric approval.
Samsung said in an October 7, 2026 newsroom announcement that the integration removes the need to create a separate crypto wallet or manage private keys. The service extends its existing Coinbase collaboration, which already includes Samsung Pay funding in the Coinbase app and Coinbase One benefits through Samsung Wallet.
Samsung Wallet’s stablecoin rollout starts with USDC
USDC will be the first supported stablecoin and the default dollar-denominated option when users select “Buy Stablecoin.” The initial rollout covers eligible U.S. residents, rather than every owner of a compatible Galaxy device.
Users must be 18 or older, have a Samsung Account and use a Samsung Wallet-compatible Galaxy device running Android 13 or higher. They must also register an account, complete identity verification and set up biometric authentication. The 82 million figure counts compatible devices in the United States.
Solana and Sui are among the partners supplying technical infrastructure and blockchain network support. According to Crypto.news, fiat on-ramps and off-ramps will also be part of the service, enabling qualified users to convert between USDC and traditional currency.
Potential later capabilities include online stablecoin purchases and in-store payments made by tapping an eligible Galaxy device. Expansion into additional markets is also under consideration, subject to regulatory developments in each country.
Crypto-wallet transfers and bank payments follow different rules
Eligible users will be able to send USDC internationally to compatible crypto wallets in seconds, with no Samsung transfer fee. Bank transfers will instead deliver local currency to qualifying accounts in more than 60 countries, with applicable charges.
Among the eligible destinations are external exchange accounts and third-party wallets capable of handling USDC on any blockchain network that Samsung Wallet supports. The fee-free offer applies to Samsung’s transfer charge; recipient wallet providers and exchanges can impose their own fees.
Bank recipients will not need a crypto wallet to receive funds. The app will show supported countries, the transfer fee and an estimated delivery time before the sender confirms. Fees vary with the destination country and the amount sent.
The company presents Samsung Wallet’s stablecoin functionality as a way to make USDC useful for everyday money transfers, rather than requiring users to navigate a separate cryptocurrency application.
“Sending money abroad should feel as convenient as using the wallet already on your phone,” Woncheol Chai, executive vice president and head of Samsung’s Digital Wallet Team, said, according to Crypto.news.
Bastion and Coinbase handle custody and money movement
The cross-border payment framework will be run by Bastion, a licensed provider of stablecoin custody and infrastructure that operates under the supervision of U.S. financial regulators. Coinbase will act as its official sub-custodian, safeguarding USDC through Coinbase Prime Vault, a custody arrangement also reported by Seeking Alpha through TradingView.
Registered Galaxy devices will serve as the access point for transactions, with biometric authentication required before users initiate a transfer. Stablecoin accounts, custody and money movement will be provided by regulated partners.
Since the company is neither a bank, nor a money transmitter, nor a digital asset custodian, it will not take custody of customer funds. Use of the service will be governed by partner terms.
Through Bastion Platforms Trust Company, LLC, Bastion holds a New York trust charter, and the OCC has granted it preliminary conditional approval for a national trust bank charter, though it does not issue any stablecoin of its own.
Article produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team.
