Samsung Wallet adds USDC remittances for Galaxy users

Samsung plans to add USDC transfers to Samsung Wallet in the last week of October, giving eligible U.S. Galaxy users two cross-border routes: send stablecoins to a compatible crypto wallet, or send money to a qualifying bank account in more than 60 countries for payout in local currency. The company says 82 million U.S. Galaxy devices are compatible with the feature, a potential reach figure rather than a count of users who have signed up. In its announcement, Samsung said USDC will be the first supported stablecoin and the service will be built into its existing wallet.

The change brings a crypto transfer option into an app users already use for cards, IDs and tickets. Samsung says eligible users will not need to install a separate crypto app or manage private keys themselves. That reduces setup steps compared with the self-managed wallet route, while putting custody and money movement in the hands of service partners. The initial launch is limited to eligible U.S. residents aged 18 or older with a Samsung Account, a compatible Galaxy device running Android 13 or higher, and completed identity verification.

How do the two transfer routes differ?

A USDC transfer to a compatible external wallet stays in crypto: the recipient needs a wallet or exchange account that supports USDC on a network supported by Samsung Wallet. Samsung says it will charge no fee for that transfer, though the receiving wallet or exchange may impose one; speed depends on network conditions.

The bank-account option removes that wallet requirement for recipients. Samsung says qualifying accounts in more than 60 countries can receive funds in local currency, but fees apply and vary by destination and amount. The app will show the fee and estimated delivery time before the sender confirms. Account and bank eligibility vary, and Samsung says delivery times may vary too. The routes therefore trade reach and recipient convenience against different costs and conditions; the company has not described the bank payout as fee-free.

Who holds the funds, and which networks are involved?

Samsung says stablecoin accounts and money movement will be provided by partners, not Samsung, which says it will not hold customer funds. Bastion provides the stablecoin infrastructure and custody; Coinbase acts as sub-custodian through Coinbase Prime Vault. Transfers require biometric authentication on a registered device. Samsung names Solana and Sui among the partners providing blockchain network support, but the launch announcement does not specify which route each transfer type will use.

The partnership extends an existing Samsung-Coinbase relationship: Samsung previously added Samsung Pay as a payment option in the Coinbase app, while eligible users could access Coinbase One benefits through Samsung Wallet. The new feature moves the connection from account funding and benefits into sending USDC from the wallet itself. As CoinDesk reported, the feature is scheduled to start in late October, with wider market expansion dependent on local regulation.

What will show whether it changes remittances?

Availability is the first test: the announcement sets a launch window, not proof that the feature is already live or that all 82 million compatible devices will use it. After launch, the practical measures will be the supported-country and bank lists, the fees and delivery times shown in the app, and whether recipients can reliably receive local-currency payouts. For crypto-wallet transfers, network conditions and recipient-provider fees remain part of the experience. Those details will determine how Samsung Wallet compares with sending USDC through a separate crypto app or choosing the bank payout route.

Source material

• announcement, Samsung said — samsung-newsroom-production.barbariangroup.com
• CoinDesk reported — coindesk.com