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Xiaomi will begin shipping new phones with a preinstalled crypto wallet and discovery app from Sei Labs in 2026, part of a global deal to bring blockchain features directly to users. The move targets devices sold outside mainland China and the United States and could expose millions to Web3 tools without any extra downloads.
What the preinstalled app does — and where it lands
The Sei app acts as both a crypto wallet and a gateway to decentralized apps. Users will reportedly be able to send peer-to-peer payments, interact with dApps, and browse blockchain-based services straight from their phones. Sei is a Layer 1 blockchain optimized for digital-asset trading, and Xiaomi’s plan is to roll the app onto all eligible new handsets starting in 2026.
That’s significant reach: Xiaomi is the world’s third-largest smartphone maker, with roughly 13% global market share — about 160 million devices — and even larger slices in some countries. The app will NOT be preinstalled on phones sold within mainland China or the U.S., but most other markets are included.
Beyond phones: stablecoin payments in stores
Sei and Xiaomi are also talking about retail integrations. The partnership envisions enabling stablecoin payments in Xiaomi’s 20,000-plus retail outlets, beginning in Hong Kong and parts of the European Union. In practice, that would allow customers to buy Xiaomi products with stablecoins such as USDC, with transactions settled on the Sei network.
For users this sounds convenient — fast settlement, fewer intermediaries, a native crypto checkout. For regulators and retail staff, it raises fresh questions about compliance, invoicing and local payment rules.
Why many customers call it bloatware
Preinstalled apps have long been a complaint among Xiaomi users. A few years back the brand shipped phones crowded with apps most buyers never opened. Xiaomi has since tried to limit the problem and improve transparency, but shipping a crypto wallet by default risks reopening old wounds.
Critics say adding a blockchain app that many users won’t request or understand amounts to bloatware — especially if the app comes preenabled or hard to remove. Support for uninstalling or disabling the app, data-handling practices, and clear prompts about security and fees will be crucial if Xiaomi wants to avoid user backlash.
Whether this is a smart shortcut to mainstream crypto or an unwanted push of Web3 onto unsuspecting users depends on implementation: clear consent, easy removal, and robust security could make it a welcomed convenience. Absent that, it may simply feel like more software clutter.
Source: gizmochina
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