Samsung Electronics stock fell sharply on Friday as investors weighed fresh tariff risks and the company’s announcement of native stablecoin support for Samsung Wallet. Shares dropped 7.6% to ₩249,500, joining a broader sell-off of South Korean chipmakers amid escalating trade tensions.
Stablecoin Integration for Samsung Wallet
During Galaxy Unpacked 2026 on July 22, Samsung announced plans to integrate stablecoin functionality into its Samsung Wallet, allowing Galaxy users to send, receive, and hold stablecoins directly within the app. The update will expand the wallet beyond payment cards, digital IDs, rewards, cash, and savings. A USDC interface was shown during the event, though Samsung did not confirm that USDC will launch with the service. Product manager Lee Dinham stated the goal to unify payments, rewards, and digital assets in one application, secured by Samsung Knox device encryption. This follows Samsung’s October 2025 partnership with Coinbase, which gave over 75 million US Galaxy users crypto access through Samsung Wallet and a three-month Coinbase One subscription.
Tariff Pressures Weigh on Samsung Stock
New US tariffs on imports from more than 60 economies have heightened concerns over global supply chains. Samsung, which sells consumer electronics, memory chips, displays, and other components across markets including the Americas, China, and Europe, faces direct exposure to customs costs, compliance rules, and potential trade retaliation. Higher duties could impact device pricing and component margins. The company is investing heavily in memory capacity and AI-related chips, but also faces legal disputes involving memory products and board-level changes, adding uncertainty for investors.
Citi Maintains Buy Rating on Memory Demand
Citi Research retained Buy ratings on Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, calling the sell-off “unfounded fears” of a memory-cycle downturn. The bank noted that memory inventory remains “materially low” at suppliers and customers, and rising demand could keep supply below orders. Citi expects AI infrastructure to drive the next phase of memory demand, citing NVIDIA’s Vera Rubin platform as a potential driver for Samsung’s NAND and advanced DRAM businesses. The report also pointed to growing use of context memory extension systems and high-capacity SSDs near graphics processors.
Samsung’s stablecoin plan adds a new service to its mobile ecosystem, but launch details remain unclear. Meanwhile, tariff risks and supply-chain costs persist. Citi’s positive rating reflects tight memory supply and expanding AI server demand.