Samsung Pay Partners with Coinbase in the U.S.

Samsung Meets Coinbase

Samsung Electronics is taking a bold step to expand access to cryptocurrency investment in the United States. On October 3, 2025 (local time), Samsung Electronics America officially announced a partnership with Coinbase, the world’s largest crypto exchange, enabling Galaxy smartphone users to buy and manage cryptocurrencies directly through Samsung Pay. This move extends the scope of mobile payment services into the realm of asset investment and management, signaling major ripples across the global fintech market.

The Evolution of “Samsung Wallet”: From Simple Payments to an Investment Hub

Through this partnership, Coinbase customers in the U.S. can now use Samsung Wallet to:

▲Check cryptocurrency holdings

▲Invest directly within the app

▲Conduct mobile trades and installment payments

▲Send peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers

In addition, Samsung Wallet already supports ID cards, membership passes, and digital key management. With this expansion, it is evolving into a true “personal asset hub,” going beyond just a payment app.

Drew Blackhard of Samsung Electronics America emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating:

“We’re providing Galaxy users with the simplest and most efficient way to access cryptocurrency.”

Coinbase’s Strategy and Benefits

Samsung Wallet users will receive three months of free access to Coinbase One, the company’s premium subscription service. Coinbase One offers:

▲Zero trading fees ▲Preferential interest rates ▲24/7 customer support ▲Advanced security features Additionally, new traders will receive a ▲$25 free credit, lowering the entry barrier for first-time investors.

Shan Aggarwal of Coinbase noted:

“We’re starting with 75 million Galaxy smartphone users in the U.S. and preparing to expand globally.”

He suggested that the partnership with Samsung could become a turning point in making cryptocurrency investing truly mainstream.

Why “Crypto + Samsung Pay” Now?

Samsung first entered the crypto wallet market back in 2019, when the Galaxy S10 introduced the Blockchain Keystore for secure crypto storage. Since then, Samsung Wallet has expanded to include transportation cards, IDs, and digital car keys—becoming an “all-in-one wallet.” However, direct integration with crypto trading had remained limited.

Meanwhile, despite regulatory uncertainty, the U.S. market is rapidly improving crypto accessibility, with milestones such as the approval of Bitcoin spot ETFs. Against this backdrop, the Samsung–Coinbase partnership stands out as one of the first major cases of a global tech company fully integrating cryptocurrency financial infrastructure.

Ju-baek Shin / jbshin@kmjournal.net