Samsung Wallet introduced stablecoin accounts for eligible U.S. Galaxy users on November 5, 2026, bringing Circle’s dollar-pegged USDC on Solana into the same app used for credit cards and boarding passes, according to Decrypt’s report published that day.
The feature lets users buy, hold, send and receive USDC without downloading a separate crypto app or managing private keys. According to the announcement, about 82 million Galaxy devices in the United States are compatible.
Eligibility and custody
The service is available to U.S. residents aged 18 and older, excluding New York residents, and requires Android 13 or later. Samsung’s disclosures specify that the account is a crypto wallet, not a bank account.
The product was built with Bastion, a licensed stablecoin custodian and infrastructure provider. Coinbase acts as Bastion’s sub-custodian, safeguarding the USDC through Coinbase Prime Vault.
Samsung first announced the feature on October 7, 2026, after teasing support for the stablecoin over the summer.
Transfers, international reach and fees
Users can send USDC to other Samsung Wallet users in the United States and to compatible external crypto wallets without a Samsung transfer fee, although other providers may charge fees.
The service also supports transfers to qualifying bank accounts in more than 60 countries. Recipients may receive local currency, and fees vary by destination.
Credit-card top-ups, including those made through Samsung Pay, carry a 4% fee. Withdrawals to a bank account or debit card also incur a fee.
Payments and expansion remain prospective
“For a decade, stablecoins have proved the technology works,” Solana Foundation President Lily Liu said. “What they lacked was a way to reach the mainstream.”
Woncheol Chai, who leads the digital wallet team in Samsung’s mobile business, said the aim was to make moving money easier without requiring Galaxy users to navigate traditional crypto tools.
Samsung said it expects to explore online and in-store stablecoin payments and expansion into additional markets, subject to local regulation. Those plans were prospective, rather than services announced as available at launch.
Source: Decrypt’s original article, published November 5, 2026, at 21:01:02 UTC+08:00.