Samsung to Add USDC Transfers to Wallet in Late October

Samsung Electronics America says eligible U.S. Galaxy users will be able to send USDC through Samsung Wallet starting in the last week of October, bringing stablecoin transfers to an app used for cards and IDs. The Samsung announcement says the feature will cover 82 million compatible U.S. Galaxy devices. That figure describes device compatibility, not confirmed users or transfers.

Users will be able to send USDC to compatible crypto wallets abroad, or request payouts to eligible bank accounts in more than 60 countries, where recipients may receive local currency. The bank option avoids requiring recipients to hold a crypto wallet, while the wallet-to-wallet option keeps the transfer in USDC. The two routes have different costs: Samsung says it will charge no fee for transfers to external wallets, though recipient services may charge their own fees. Bank transfer fees vary by destination and amount, and will be shown before confirmation.

What changes for Galaxy users with this launch?

The feature puts stablecoin transfers inside Samsung Wallet instead of requiring a separate crypto app and a user-managed wallet. Samsung says customers must register, complete identity verification and use biometric authentication on a registered device. Eligibility is limited to U.S. residents aged 18 or older with a Samsung Account and a compatible Galaxy device running Android 13 or higher.

That lowers some of the setup burden but does not remove the account and compliance steps. Nor does “no transfer fees” apply to every route: it refers to Samsung’s charge for transfers to compatible external wallets, not bank payouts or possible recipient-side charges. Transfers to external wallets can take seconds, according to Samsung, but speed depends on network conditions. The company also says some receiving banks or account types may not qualify, and delivery times vary.

Who handles custody and which networks will carry USDC?

Samsung says stablecoin accounts, custody and money movement will be provided by partners, not Samsung. Bastion will provide the stablecoin infrastructure, while Coinbase will act as USDC sub-custodian through Coinbase Prime Vault; Solana and Sui will provide blockchain network support. In its coverage of the announcement, CoinDesk likewise reported the partner roles and the planned October launch.

This division matters because the familiar Samsung interface does not mean Samsung itself holds customer funds or operates the transfer rails. The company says it is not a bank, money transmitter or digital-asset custodian. Users will need a compatible destination wallet or an eligible bank account; transfers to sanctioned jurisdictions are prohibited. Samsung’s announcement does not specify which network will carry each transfer or how users will choose between Solana and Sui.

How does this compare with Samsung’s earlier crypto services?

The launch moves Samsung’s crypto tie-up with Coinbase from payment and membership links into stablecoin transfers inside Wallet. Samsung says the partnership follows the addition of Samsung Pay as a payment option in Coinbase’s app and Coinbase One benefits for eligible Wallet users. The new feature adds a remittance route, but its initial reach is U.S.-only; Samsung says expansion elsewhere will depend on local regulation.

Samsung says stablecoin payments online or by tapping a Galaxy device in stores may come later. For now, the signals to watch are whether the October rollout begins on schedule, which countries and banks appear in the app, how fees and delivery times vary by route, and how Samsung assigns transfers across its supported networks.

Sources and documents

• Samsung announcement — samsung-newsroom-production.barbariangroup.com
• coverage of the announcement — coindesk.com