Samsung Wallet to add Solana-based USDC payments for 82 million U.S. Galaxy phones

By Khal · · 2 min read

Editorial illustration: Blue dollar-symbol coins sit in wallets on a smartphone and beside a globe, connected by turquoise, blue and purple ribbons against a dark background.
AI-generated editorial illustration · AI-generated editorial illustration · Published Oct 8, 2026, 8:13 a.m. (Yesterday)

In brief

  • Samsung Wallet will add USDC cross-border payments on Solana infrastructure, the Solana Foundation says.
  • U.S. rollout covers 82 million compatible Galaxy devices first, subject to eligibility and ID verification.
  • Wallet-to-wallet USDC sends carry no Samsung fees; bank transfers to 60+ countries carry fees.
  • Coinbase and Bastion will handle stablecoin custody and payment infrastructure, U.Today reports.

How the payments work

Users won't need to download a separate crypto app to send digital dollars across borders, U.Today reported. The integration runs on Solana blockchain infrastructure in the background, with fiat on- and off-ramps built into the app so people can swap between stablecoins and local currencies.

There are two paths, and only one of them is free.

Eligible users can send USDC to compatible crypto wallets without transfer fees from Samsung.

Bank transfers are different. Users will also be able to send funds to eligible bank accounts in more than 60 countries, but those transfers carry fees.

According to U.Today's report, Samsung is also working with Coinbase and Bastion on stablecoin custody and payment infrastructure, with USDC to be held in Coinbase Prime. LeoDex News couldn't independently confirm the details with Samsung.

Solana's stablecoin numbers

The Solana Foundation said stablecoin supply on the network rose almost 20% over the past 12 months, per U.Today. It also said Solana has processed more than $5.25 trillion in stablecoin transaction volume so far in 2026.

Those figures come from the foundation itself.

Samsung's crypto track record

This isn't Samsung's first move into crypto. The company's been pushing into blockchain since at least 2019, when Samsung Blockchain Keystore launched alongside the Galaxy S10 and let users store crypto private keys securely on their phones. Samsung Blockchain Wallet was also available for managing digital assets and using decentralized apps, and in 2021 Samsung added support for hardware wallets like the Ledger Nano S and Nano X. At the time, the wallet supported Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tron and a range of other tokens.

The Coinbase relationship is newer. In July 2025, Coinbase added Samsung Pay so eligible users could buy crypto and fund trading accounts through Samsung's payment service, and in October 2025 the two expanded the partnership to give Samsung Wallet users promotional Coinbase One subscriptions and other crypto perks.

Frequently asked questions

When does Samsung Wallet's Solana-based USDC payment feature launch?

According to the Solana Foundation announcement reported by U.Today, the cross-border payments feature is scheduled to go live in the last week of October 2026. It's rolling out first on 82 million compatible Galaxy devices in the U.S., subject to eligibility and ID verification.

Does it cost anything to send USDC through Samsung Wallet?

U.Today reported that eligible users can send USDC to compatible crypto wallets with no transfer fees from Samsung. Transfers to eligible bank accounts in more than 60 countries are also available, but those carry fees.

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