Key Takeaways
- The late-October launch will cover 82 million eligible U.S. Galaxy devices.
- Coinbase Prime Vault will safeguard USDC as Bastion’s sub-custodian.
- Transfers will reach bank accounts in more than 60 countries.
Samsung Wallet Puts USDC in the Default Dollar Slot
Samsung Wallet users in the United States will gain USDC balances starting in the last week of October, extending the app’s digital asset capabilities. Crypto exchange Coinbase (Nasdaq: COIN) outlined the Samsung Wallet stablecoin integration in an Oct. 8 announcement by Alec Lovett, its head of infrastructure products.
Lovett described the customer experience:
“When a Samsung Wallet user tops up their stablecoin balance, USDC will appear automatically as the default dollar stablecoin.”
The feature will be available across 82 million eligible U.S. Galaxy devices, bringing the service directly into Samsung’s existing interface.
At launch, users will be able to hold and send Circle’s dollar-linked cryptocurrency without installing a separate crypto app or managing private keys. International transfers will reach bank accounts in more than 60 countries, with Bastion converting USDC and delivering payouts in local currency through regulated partners.
Solana will provide infrastructure for cross-border USDC transfers behind the scenes, with conversion between traditional currency and stablecoins built into the same interface used for cards, boarding passes, and IDs. Additional markets are planned, subject to local regulatory requirements.
Coinbase Prime Vault Secures USDC Behind the App
Bastion will act as the licensed custodian and money transmission partner, while Coinbase serves as its USDC sub-custodian through Coinbase Prime Vault. The arrangement uses Coinbase’s New York State Department of Financial Services-qualified custody services. Bastion maintains individual account records, processes transfers, and handles identity checks and transaction screening.
USDC is designed to be redeemable 1:1 for U.S. dollars, with backing held separately from Circle’s operating funds. Circle’s USDC reserve disclosures detail cash, short-term U.S. Treasuries, and overnight reverse repurchase agreements. Monthly independent attestations assess whether reserves cover the outstanding supply.
The token entered this expansion after substantial growth in 2025, when USDC circulation reached $75.3 billion at year-end, up 72%. Coinbase also cited a 59% increase in wallets holding USDC to nearly 7 million.
Samsung Partnership Moves From Purchases to International Transfers
The collaboration began with Samsung Pay funding inside Coinbase in July 2025, allowing eligible users to purchase cryptocurrency without re-entering payment details. That rollout initially covered select users in the United States and Canada.
A subsequent agreement introduced Coinbase One access for more than 75 million Galaxy owners in the United States in October 2025. Coinbase One is a paid membership offering benefits that include trading-fee reductions and customer support.
Samsung’s Coinbase One subscription offer originally included a three-month trial for eligible new subscribers and a qualifying first-trade credit. That promotion expanded access to exchange services; the forthcoming integration adds stablecoin storage and international money transfers within Samsung Wallet itself.
Solana and Sui will support the transfers, which require biometric authorization from a registered device. In its Oct. 7 announcement, the Solana Foundation cited nearly 20% year-over-year growth in stablecoin supply on Solana and more than $5.25 trillion in stablecoin volume on the network during 2026. Online and in-store stablecoin payments and expansion into additional markets remain planned capabilities.
