Coinbase brings USDC to Samsung Wallet as the default dollar stablecoin for US Galaxy users

Coinbase now powers USDC as the default dollar stablecoin inside Samsung Wallet for US Galaxy users. The feature could put a digital dollar on approximately 82 million compatible phones.

How the Samsung Wallet USDC feature works

The partnership was announced on October 7-8, 2026. The feature is expected to go live for users around November 5, 2026.

Once it launches, eligible US users should be able to buy, hold, send and receive USDC directly in Samsung Wallet. USDC is Circle’s stablecoin, a token pegged to the US dollar.

Users won’t need a separate application. They also won’t have to manage private keys, the long strings of characters that normally control access to a crypto wallet.

Transfers will run on the Solana blockchain. Users can move USDC to compatible external wallets without fees.

The service also supports payouts to bank accounts in over 60 countries. Those payouts can be converted into local currency.

Who holds the money, and who gets access

Samsung will not hold customer funds. It is also not acting as the custodian.

That job sits with Bastion, the primary custodian for the USDC. Coinbase serves as sub-custodian through its Coinbase Prime Vault.

Access comes with a checklist. Users must be US residents and must verify their identity.

They also need biometric authentication, like a fingerprint or face scan. On top of that, they need a compatible Samsung Galaxy device running Android 13 or higher.

One notable group is left out. Residents of New York will not be able to use the service.

What this means for stablecoins and Samsung users

The scale is the headline number. Approximately 82 million compatible US Galaxy devices is a large potential audience, though compatible devices are not the same as active users.

Identity checks and the New York exclusion will also narrow the pool.

The custody structure keeps Samsung out of the custody chain, placing regulated crypto firms in charge of the funds while the phone maker focuses on the interface.

For Coinbase, the deal extends its role beyond its own apps. Acting as sub-custodian through Coinbase Prime Vault puts its infrastructure behind a mainstream consumer product.

For Solana, the choice of network routes this new flow of transfers through its chain. Fee-free transfers to compatible external wallets lower the friction for users who want to move funds elsewhere.

The payout feature supports conversion to local currency in over 60 countries, giving USDC a use case that goes past trading and into everyday money movement.

The launch is expected around November 5, 2026. For now, eligible Galaxy owners outside New York have a date to mark.