Coinbase Announces Integration of Samsung Pay to Enhance Crypto Purchases in North America

Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN) announced an integration with Samsung Pay, enabling crypto purchases and account funding for users in the US and Canada.

This partnership reflects the crypto exchange’s commitment to reducing friction in the crypto onboarding process and aligning with mainstream payment technologies.

By combining Coinbase’s platform with Samsung Pay’s mobile wallet, this update aims to streamline the user experience, making it easier for investors to engage with digital assets from their smartphones.

The integration allows Coinbase users to fund their accounts and buy cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin using Samsung Pay without needing to switch apps or re-enter payment information.

This process aims to eliminate traditional barriers, such as manual input of bank or card details, which can deter first-time crypto buyers.

Starting soon, the feature is rolling out to select users in North America, with full availability expected in the coming weeks.

Coinbase has also hinted at plans to expand this functionality to additional regions, though no specific timeline was provided.

This move reportedly positions Coinbase as one of the first U.S. crypto exchanges to leverage Samsung Pay for account funding, potentially giving it an edge over platforms like Kraken or Cash App.

Samsung Pay, integrated within the Samsung Wallet app, is a mobile payment solution with an estimated 35 million active users in the U.S. alone.

It combines features like peer-to-peer payments, digital IDs, and mobile transactions with security measures, including biometric authentication, tokenization, and Samsung’s Knox platform.

These layers ensure that sensitive payment information remains protected, complementing Coinbase’s security protocols, such as two-factor authentication and offline storage.

The integration comes at a time when crypto adoption is surging.

Recent reports indicate that approximately 28% of American adults—roughly 65 million people—own digital assets, nearly double the figure from 2021.

Globally, over 824 million people hold cryptocurrencies, with Bitcoin leading the pack.

This interest, driven by rising prices, institutional involvement, and easier investment options, underscores the need for user-friendly platforms.

Coinbase’s partnership with Samsung Pay taps into this trend by offering a more efficient way for mobile-first consumers to enter the crypto market.

This isn’t Coinbase’s first foray into mobile wallet integrations.

The exchange previously added Google Pay support for its Coinbase Card earlier, followed by direct crypto purchases via Google Pay later on.

Apple Pay was also integrated for Coinbase Card transactions, and by December 2024, Coinbase enabled direct crypto buys through Apple Pay using its Onramp feature.

The Samsung Pay integration builds on this strategy, diversifying Coinbase’s paymentoptions.

Analysts suggest that while the integration lowers entry barriers and enhances user experience, its impact hinges on adoption rates and competition from other platforms.

This partnership seemingly marks a key moment in the convergence of mobile payment ecosystems and cryptocurrency, aligning with broader industry trends toward accessibility and convenience.

As Coinbase and Samsung continue to develop products, this integration could help more users to explore digital currencies, bringing crypto closer to mainstream adoption.