Coinbase and Samsung have announced a partnership to integrate USD Coin (USDC) directly into Samsung Wallet, extending access to the stablecoin to more than 82 million Galaxy users in the United States. The rollout will begin in the last week of October 2026, with USDC becoming the first stablecoin natively supported by the wallet.
The partnership builds on an existing relationship between the companies. Coinbase previously added Samsung Pay as a payment option on its platform and expanded collaboration by offering Coinbase One benefits to Galaxy users through Samsung Wallet. Under the new integration, USDC will serve as the default dollar stablecoin when users add money to their stablecoin balance.
Custody and Payment Features
Coinbase will manage USDC custody through Coinbase Prime, utilizing its NYDFS-qualified custody services. The arrangement also involves Bastion, a licensed stablecoin custodian regulated by U.S. financial authorities.
The integration enables multiple payment capabilities within Samsung Wallet. Users can send USDC directly to contacts without entering wallet addresses, and in-store purchases can be made by tapping to pay. Coinbase will convert USDC to the merchant's local currency during point-of-sale transactions.
USDC Market Context
USDC is designed to maintain a 1:1 value with the U.S. dollar and is backed by cash and short-term U.S. Treasuries. According to Coinbase, USDC circulation increased 72% during 2025 to exceed $75 billion, while wallets holding USDC rose 59% to nearly 7 million.
The service will initially be available in the United States.
