Samsung Wallet launches USDC accounts on Solana for U.S. users

Samsung launched USDC accounts on Solana in Samsung Wallet on Nov. 5, opening access to eligible U.S. Galaxy users across about 82 million compatible devices, according to Decrypt’s report on the launch.

The move puts a dollar-linked crypto asset and cross-border transfers inside a widely used phone wallet, while the account itself remains a custodial digital-asset service rather than a bank deposit.

What can eligible Galaxy users do with USDC?

Users can buy, hold, send and receive USDC through Samsung Wallet, without setting up a separate crypto app or managing private keys, Decrypt reported. Samsung’s Stablecoin Account FAQ says customers can add dollars from a bank account or card, which are converted to USDC, or receive USDC from an external wallet on a supported network.

Transfers can go to another Samsung Wallet user or to a compatible external crypto wallet. For international remittances, users can send funds to qualifying bank accounts in more than 60 countries; recipients receive local currency and do not need a Samsung Wallet account. Fees and delivery times depend on the transfer method and destination, and the app displays the applicable fee and payout amount before confirmation.

The account supports USDC, issued by Circle and designed to track the U.S. dollar. That makes it a dollar-denominated digital asset, but it does not turn the Wallet balance into dollars held in a bank account. The distinction matters when users move funds between the app, blockchain addresses and bank accounts: each route has its own conversion, network and provider terms.

Who handles custody and transfers?

Samsung supplies the app interface, while Bastion provides the custodial wallet, digital-asset transfers and international remittances, according to Samsung. Coinbase holds the USDC in institutional custody under an arrangement managed by Bastion; separate financial-service providers handle dollar conversions and some payment processing.

That structure means a customer is not personally managing the private keys for USDC held in the Samsung Wallet account. For external transfers, however, the receiving wallet must support USDC on the same network selected in Samsung Wallet. Samsung warns that using an unsupported asset or network can result in permanent loss, and says a submitted transfer cannot be canceled or reversed.

Samsung says fingerprint verification is required to access the account and approve transactions. Applicants must be at least 18, live in a jurisdiction where the service is offered, use a compatible device running Android 13 or later, and provide identifying information for verification. The feature is currently unavailable to New York residents.

What protections and costs should users check?

The Stablecoin Account holds a digital asset, not a bank deposit. Samsung’s FAQ says USDC balances and rewards are not covered by FDIC, NCUA or SIPC protections. Users should also check the fees shown before adding or withdrawing funds: charges vary by method and destination, and external wallet providers may add their own fees. Samsung says it does not charge for USDC transfers to external wallets, but that does not rule out network or recipient-provider costs.

The launch therefore adds a new route for moving USDC, but the experience still depends on the custodians, payment providers, supported networks and destination banks involved. Samsung has said it may explore online and in-store stablecoin payments and additional markets, subject to local regulation; those are potential next steps, not features confirmed as live in this launch.

Sources and documents

• Decrypt’s report on the launch — decrypt.co
• Stablecoin Account FAQ — samsung.com