Samsung plans to transform 800 million Galaxy smartphones into digital asset wallets and enhance its crypto infrastructure.
By Olivier Acuna|Edited by Nikhilesh De Aug 4, 2026, 5:14 p.m. 4 min readMake preferred on ShareShare this articleCopy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmailMake preferred on The tech giant is integrating fiat-pegged savings and payment accounts directly into Galaxy hardware across 61 countries. Samsung Press)SummaryShow- Samsung intends to introduce stablecoin functionalities, including fiat-pegged savings and payments, to 800 million new Galaxy smartphones via Samsung Wallet, potentially establishing itself as a major distributor of tokens like USDC.
- This initiative builds on Samsung’s existing crypto wallet framework and its nearly 19 million users of Samsung Wallet in South Korea, enabling the integration of payments, rewards, and digital assets within a unified ecosystem across 61 countries.
- With a $408 million investment in Dunamu, the operator of Upbit, and a drive towards digital asset infrastructure, Samsung appears to be positioning itself to support both dollar- and won-pegged stablecoins as South Korea advances its Digital Asset Basic Act.
According to analysts, Samsung's recent plans to integrate stablecoin support into 800 million smartphones could place the company in a strong position as a leading stablecoin distributor.
This is not Samsung's first foray into the cryptocurrency sector. The largest corporation in South Korea has been involved in the crypto market for several years, having launched its digital asset wallet back in 2019 through Knox, a secure storage solution that utilizes fingerprint or PIN authentication. The wallet allows users to manage various cryptocurrencies including bitcoin, ether, and tron, and also supports connections to external hardware wallets like Ledger’s Nano S and Nano X. Samsung is now positioning its offering as a means to simplify payments using stablecoins that maintain a steady value.
Joseph Goh, director and head of Asia Pacific at crypto investment banking firm Areta, stated, “With this strategic initiative, Samsung is set to become a key distributor of stablecoins such as USDC.” He emphasized that a major barrier to wider adoption has been reaching potential new users, noting that “distribution is the scarce asset here, and Samsung possesses a significant amount of it.”
Ben Nadareski, CEO and co-founder of Solstice, concurred, viewing this development as favorable for cryptocurrency adoption and highlighting Samsung's unique positioning.
“The larger context is that distribution is finally catching up with liquidity,” Nadareski mentioned in a Telegram conversation. “Historically, while crypto has thrived in markets like South Korea, it struggled with everyday spending pathways. Samsung Wallet changes that narrative by integrating stablecoins into a platform users already access for transactions.”
During its Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event, Samsung revealed its plans for the Samsung Wallet, indicating that over 800 million smartphones would come equipped with stablecoin functionalities, including fiat-backed savings and payment accounts. However, the company did not disclose expected user adoption rates or how many users currently utilize its crypto features.
Lee Dinham, a product manager specializing in smartphones, stated that Samsung plans to embrace new forms of digital value, including stablecoins. He noted that Samsung Wallet has nearly 19 million users in South Korea and is available in 61 countries, but did not provide specific figures on active crypto users within the Samsung ecosystem.
"This move will position Samsung as one of the first major mobile phone manufacturers to offer native stablecoin capabilities on smartphones, facilitating fast and dependable transfers of digital value," Dinham commented during the event.
“In doing so, Samsung Wallet will serve as the backbone of an interconnected financial ecosystem across Galaxy devices and services, merging payments, rewards, and digital assets into a cohesive experience,” he added.
If successful, this initiative could provide access to stablecoin features and other cryptocurrency functionalities to over 800 million users without necessitating a separate crypto application or exchange account. Currently, there are more than one billion active Samsung smartphones globally.
Stablecoins and Infrastructure
In its Q2 earnings call last week, Samsung SDS CEO Lee Jun-hee stated that the company’s investment in Dunamu, which operates the Upbit exchange, is a strategic move to enter the digital asset infrastructure space, encompassing stablecoins and AI-driven payment solutions.
Three Samsung affiliates agreed in May to purchase a 4% stake in Dunamu for $408 million. The companies involved in this acquisition include Samsung Securities, Samsung SDS, and Samsung Card.
“This is the other half of the strategy, and from a deal-making perspective, it is the more revealing half,” Goh explained. “The wallet announcement ensures distribution; SDS and Dunamu will establish the necessary infrastructure.”
Goh believes Samsung is working to develop its own infrastructure rather than depending on third-party providers. “They aim to be involved with both dollar and won stablecoins while discussions on Korea's regulatory framework continue. The timing of this initiative is intentional.”
In April, South Korea unveiled a draft of the Digital Asset Basic Act, which aims to create a regulatory foundation for digital assets, including trading, custody, oversight, and stablecoin issuance. However, no deadline has been set for the approval or implementation of the new regulations.
Robby Yung, CEO of Investments at Animoca Brands, remarked that this is promising news for cryptocurrency and its adoption, asserting that broader distribution of digital assets is beneficial.
“Distribution has always been a significant hurdle for digital assets due to the closed nature of mobile ecosystems,” Yung noted. While he is uncertain if this gives Samsung a competitive edge over crypto-native platforms, he believes it is overall positive for the sector.
Yat Siu, executive chairman of Animoca Brands, also views Samsung’s initiative as a feature enhancement rather than an effort to create an all-encompassing app. He suggested that this could provide Samsung with an edge over Apple and Google in catering to crypto users, but emphasized that applications and merchants must facilitate the practical use of stablecoins for daily transactions. Samsung is also an investor in Animoca Brands.
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