Samsung Dismisses Galaxy S10 Crypto Wallet Reports as ‘Rumor and Speculation’

Samsung has refuted rumors that it has plans to offer a cryptocurrency cold wallet on its Galaxy S10 smartphone, in comments to Cointelegraph Dec. 11.

The Korean-headquartered transnational tech conglomerate had recently filed three E.U. trademarks for blockchain- and cryptocurrency-software Dec. 10. As reported by Samsung community news sharing site SamMobile today, Dec. 11, the trademark requests are part of alleged plans to offer a cryptocurrency cold wallet on the Galaxy S10 smartphone, but this suggestion was swiftly refuted by Samsung in private correspondence with Cointelegraph:

“Unfortunately we are unable to provide any information as the below is rumour and speculation.”

The three E.U. trademark requests appear in searches on the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) website, and are titled “Blockchain KeyStore,” “Blockchain key box” and “Blockchain Core” respectively.

All three have been filed under the trademark category of “Smartphones; Software applications for use with mobile devices; Computer software platforms; Application,” but reveal few details as to the proposed services or applications.

SamMobile had further exclusively “confirmed” that the trademarks are part of the development of a Samsung proprietary cold wallet, which “may be launched” with the company’s Galaxy 10 smartphone. Notably, a previous “exclusive” news story from SamMobile two years ago –– which alleged Samsung would be ditching its 3.5mm headphone jack from its Galaxy S8 model –– transpired not to be true.

As previously reported, Taiwanese consumer electronics manufacturer HTC announced the release of the “first native blockchain phone,” this May, with news this week that decentralized browser Brave is to be the native browser on the firm’s blockchain phone, known as “HTC Exodus 1.”

Samsung SDS –– the conglomerate’s IT and tech subsidiary –– has meanwhile made inroads into the blockchain space via a partnership with major Dutch bank ABN AMRO on a pilot to use the technology for shipping. This summer, Samsung SDS launched its own blockchain platform for finance-related businesses, as well as a further blockchain implementation that targets the logistics industry.