Samsung, Xiaomi, and Apple Target Stablecoin as a New Payment Gateway

The global smartphone ecosystem is emerging as a new payment point for stablecoins. Samsung Electronics has announced plans to support stablecoins in its Samsung Wallet, while Xiaomi's smartphone ecosystem is also pushing for the development of related wallets and payment functionalities. Apple has opened its iPhone's Near Field Communication (NFC) feature to external developers, laying the groundwork for third-party stablecoin wallets to be used for payments. However, the actual expansion of services faces challenges such as regulatory issues, security, and user protection in different countries.

Galaxy to Include STC in Wallet
Samsung Electronics plans to expand the service scope of Samsung Wallet to include new forms of digital value such as stablecoins. At the "Galaxy Unpacked 2026" event held in London last July, Samsung announced that Samsung Wallet would support not only cash and deposits but also new forms of digital value like stablecoins in the future.

The example screen revealed at that time featured functionalities for sending, receiving, and charging the dollar stablecoin USDC (USD Coin). This allows users to manage stablecoins within the Samsung Wallet, which comes pre-installed on smartphones. If features for transferring and managing stablecoins are added, the role of Samsung Wallet could expand from a digital wallet that stores existing payment methods and identification to a financial platform that directly handles digital assets.

However, the specific stablecoins and blockchains that will be supported, as well as the countries and timelines for launch, have not yet been disclosed. A Samsung Electronics representative recently told that while it is true that the USDC image was included as an example in the announcement materials, specific partners or supported stablecoins will be revealed at the time of service launch, adding that "nothing has been confirmed so far."

Xiaomi's Blockchain Project
Xiaomi is pursuing a plan to utilize the blockchain project Sei and smartphones for stablecoin payments. Previously, Sei announced the "Global Mobile Innovation Program," a strategy for spreading blockchain utilizing the Xiaomi smartphone ecosystem, set to launch in December 2025.

According to this program, Sei is developing next-generation virtual asset (digital asset) wallets and discovery apps that can be used on Xiaomi smartphones, and is considering supporting stablecoin payment functionalities on consumer devices such as smartphones. Sei plans to apply a simple user registration method using Google accounts and wallet security features based on multi-party computation (MPC) to the related apps, and support peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers and transactions between consumers and businesses. By utilizing Xiaomi's smartphone ecosystem as the space for blockchain services, users can more easily access Web3 features without having to seek out and sign up for separate blockchain services.

Apple Already Opened NFC
Apple has not announced plans to directly introduce stablecoin services like Samsung. Instead, it has created a technical foundation for third-party developers to utilize the iPhone's NFC and Secure Element (SE) platform, allowing stablecoin wallet providers to use the iPhone for contactless transactions.

Apple announced that starting in August 2024 with iOS 18.1, third-party developers meeting certain requirements will be able to offer contactless transactions through their own apps using the iPhone's NFC and SE. The opening of NFC has already been implemented. Apple's current support documents indicate that approved developers can provide transaction functionalities in their own apps using the NFC and SE platforms on iPhones with iOS 18.1 or later.

In August 2024, Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Circle, the issuer of USDC, predicted that "Tap to Pay using USDC on the iPhone will soon be possible." Tap to Pay with USDC refers to the method of making payments using USDC by tapping the iPhone against a payment terminal. He further explained that "if an iPhone wallet supporting USDC utilizes NFC, it can receive the payment amount and the blockchain address to receive USDC from the point-of-sale (POS) terminal, and after the user approves it with Face ID, USDC can be transferred on the blockchain."

However, this does not mean that Circle and Apple are jointly developing a USDC payment service. CEO Allaire also clarified that there is no direct relationship between Circle and Apple. The intention is that developers of stablecoin wallets can implement such payment services by utilizing Apple's NFC opening.

Smartphones as a Connection Point for STC and the Real Economy
While Samsung, Xiaomi, and Apple approach stablecoins differently, they share a common goal of using smartphones as a connection point between stablecoins and real-life finance.

If these movements lead to actual services, the way stablecoins are used, which has been centered around existing digital asset exchanges or separate wallet apps, could change. This is because smartphone wallets and everyday functionalities like NFC could serve as the foundation for storing, transferring, and paying with stablecoins.

Dante Disparte, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of Circle, stated in an interview with last July that "stablecoins will eventually find a place within mobile phones, just like KakaoPay or Toss," adding that "blockchain technology will fade into the background, and users will access immediate financial services through apps."

New Challenges for Financial Stability
However, there are still many challenges to overcome before widespread adoption. Different countries have varying regulations regarding the issuance, distribution, and payment of stablecoins, and issues such as wallet security, private key management, accountability in case of payment errors, and user protection also need to be addressed. The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) evaluated in its annual economic report last June that "while stablecoins show potential for supporting fast and programmable payments, the current structure has limitations, and widespread adoption could pose new challenges for financial stability."

The three companies mentioned earlier are not all at the same stage in their related businesses. Samsung has publicly announced its plans to support stablecoins in Samsung Wallet, while Sei is in the stage of considering stablecoin payment functionalities after developing a mobile wallet. Apple, instead of directly providing stablecoin services, is opening up NFC and SE infrastructure for third-party developers, showing differences in methodology. While smartphones are gaining attention as a gateway for stablecoins into the real economy, the key to future expansion will ultimately depend on whether each company's plans lead to actual service launches and user growth, as well as how they establish regulatory, security, and user protection frameworks.

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