Samsung SDS and Upbit Operator Team Up on Stablecoin and AI Payment Infrastructure
South Korea's Samsung SDS announces partnership with Dunamu to develop stablecoin infrastructure and AI-powered payment systems, signaling the tech conglomerate's strategic expansion into digital finance.
Samsung Tech Conglomerate Moves Deeper into Crypto
Samsung SDS, the information technology services division of Samsung Group, is pursuing a partnership with Dunamu, the entity operating South Korea’s prominent Upbit cryptocurrency exchange, to jointly develop stablecoin infrastructure and artificial intelligence-based payment systems. The announcement was made during Samsung SDS’s second-quarter earnings presentation, with CEO Lee Jun-hee detailing the collaboration during the company’s earnings call on July 30.
This partnership emerges as part of a broader Samsung initiative to capture opportunities in the digital asset market. Samsung Electronics recently disclosed plans to incorporate stablecoin support into its Samsung Wallet application, demonstrating coordinated effort across Samsung’s business divisions to engage with cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies.
Existing Infrastructure and Strategic Investment
Samsung SDS brings substantial existing capabilities to the partnership. The company has previously worked on South Korea’s Korea Securities Depository tokenized securities platform and has validated comprehensive stablecoin processes covering issuance through final settlement. These experiences position Samsung SDS as a credible partner for building sophisticated digital asset infrastructure.
The partnership deepens Samsung’s commitment to Dunamu specifically. In May 2026, three Samsung entities—Samsung Securities, Samsung SDS, and Samsung Card—collectively purchased a 4% stake in Dunamu, establishing themselves as significant shareholders in the exchange operator. Samsung SDS’s leadership characterized this investment as strategic rather than purely financial, indicating the company views the relationship as foundational to its digital finance ambitions.
The synergies between the two companies appear deliberately constructed. According to Samsung SDS’s second-quarter earnings materials, combining Samsung’s IT infrastructure capabilities, cloud services platform, and security systems with Dunamu’s blockchain expertise creates competitive advantage in the emerging digital financial infrastructure market.
Financial Performance and Ambitious Expansion Plans
Samsung SDS demonstrated strong financial results that provide runway for these digital asset investments. The company’s second-quarter revenue increased 5.9% year-over-year, reaching 3.72 trillion Korean won, approximately $2.6 billion. Cloud services generated particularly robust growth, with revenue climbing 17% annually and external cloud business revenue jumping 75%, driven by demand for Samsung’s cloud platform and its graphics processing unit-as-a-service offerings.
The company has announced ambitious expansion targets for its artificial intelligence infrastructure. Samsung SDS intends to increase AI infrastructure capacity from the current 110 megawatts to 230 megawatts by 2029 and surpass 800 megawatts by 2031. This substantial infrastructure build demonstrates Samsung’s intention to support both digital finance applications and the broader AI ecosystem simultaneously, positioning the company as a foundational player in next-generation financial technology.
The partnership represents a significant indicator that major technology companies now view stablecoin infrastructure as central to future financial systems, particularly when combined with artificial intelligence capabilities, strengthening the institutional-grade foundation of digital assets.
Source: Samsung SDS, via Cointelegraph. Not financial advice.