What Is the Sei-Xiaomi Partnership and Why It's Revolutionizing Web3 on Mobile in 2025

Sei Network, the high-performance layer-1 blockchain optimized for trading and DeFi, announced a landmark global partnership with Xiaomi, the world’s third-largest smartphone manufacturer, to pre-install a Sei-powered crypto wallet and discovery app on all new Xiaomi devices sold outside mainland China and the United States.

This collaboration, part of Sei’s $5 million Global Mobile Innovation Fund, aims to embed Web3 functionality directly into consumer hardware, enabling seamless stablecoin payments, peer-to-peer transfers, and dApp access for hundreds of millions of users. With initial rollout targeting Hong Kong and the EU in Q2 2026, and future expansion to Xiaomi’s 20,000+ retail stores worldwide, this move could onboard tens of millions to blockchain overnight, marking a pivotal shift from opt-in crypto to embedded adoption.

What Is the Sei-Xiaomi Pre-Install Initiative

The partnership centers on a next-generation, mobile-native app developed by Sei Labs, featuring self-custodial wallets with multi-party computation security and one-tap onboarding via Google or Xiaomi IDs. Pre-loaded on Xiaomi’s 2026 lineup—projected to exceed 168 million units sold globally—this app transforms smartphones into Web3 gateways, supporting USDC and USDT for everyday transactions like remittances and retail purchases. Unlike traditional wallets requiring downloads, it curates dApps, enables P2P sends, and facilitates consumer-to-business payments, all on Sei’s fast, low-fee network (up to 20,000 TPS).

Sei Development Foundation CEO Jayendra Jog emphasized the strategy: “We’re moving from a world where crypto is something you have to find, to one where it finds you.” The app’s discovery features highlight top DeFi protocols, NFTs, and games, fostering organic ecosystem growth without aggressive marketing.

• Pre-install on all new Xiaomi phones outside China/US (168M+ units annually)
• Core features: Stablecoin payments, P2P transfers, dApp browser with MPC security
• Onboarding: Google/Xiaomi ID integration; no seed phrases needed
• Initial markets: Hong Kong/EU Q2 2026; retail expansion to 20K+ stores
• Backed by Sei’s $5M fund for developer grants and mobile innovation

Why This Partnership Accelerates Blockchain Mainstream Adoption

Xiaomi’s dominance—13% global market share, leading in India (24%) and Greece (36%)—provides unparalleled distribution, potentially exposing 200 million+ users to Web3 annually. By sidestepping download barriers, Sei addresses a key adoption hurdle: 70% of smartphone users never install crypto apps. This hardware-software synergy echoes Samsung’s native wallets but scales via Sei’s EVM-compatible chain, optimized for speed and cost (under $0.001/tx).

The $5M fund targets startups building consumer-facing dApps, from AI micropayments to tokenized loyalty programs, ensuring ecosystem depth. Amid 2025’s regulatory thaw—GENIUS Act and ADGM approvals—this compliant push counters offshore reliance, boosting DeFi TVL (Sei at $1.2B, +25% weekly) and stablecoin utility.

• Distribution scale: 168M+ devices/year; emerging markets focus (India, Africa, LatAm)
• Adoption barrier fix: Pre-install bypasses 70% user friction
• Sei edge: 20K TPS, EVM compatibility for easy dApp migration
• Fund impact: Grants for mobile Web3 apps, accelerating innovation
• Broader trends: Aligns with tokenized RWAs and wallet security standards

How the App Works: From Wallet to Web3 Hub

The pre-installed app acts as a “discovery engine,” curating Sei-based experiences like DEX trades, NFT mints, and yield farming, all with fiat on-ramps via Xiaomi Pay. Users send stablecoins peer-to-peer (e.g., remittances at 90% lower fees than wires) or pay merchants in retail stores, with future integrations for in-app purchases. Security leverages MPC for keyless recovery, while analytics track usage to refine features—early pilots in Hong Kong test stablecoin checkouts.

This positions Sei as a “Trojan horse” for blockchain, embedding crypto into daily routines without evangelism.

• P2P/merchant payments: USDC/USDT for global transfers/retail
• dApp access: Curated browser for DeFi, gaming, social on Sei
• Security: MPC wallets; Google/Xiaomi ID for seamless setup
• Retail expansion: 20K+ Xiaomi stores for stablecoin pilots
• Analytics: Usage data informs ecosystem grants from $5M fund

Future Trends: Mobile Web3 and Sei’s 2026 Roadmap

This deal catapults Sei into the mobile-first era, where 80% of global crypto users access via phones. With Xiaomi’s ecosystem (HyperOS) enabling deep integrations, expect 2026 pilots for tokenized loyalty (e.g., earn $SEI on purchases) and AI agents for personalized dApps. Sei’s fund could spawn 50+ startups, driving TVL to $5B+ and aligning with global regs like EU’s MiCA.

Broader implications: Accelerates stablecoin remittances ($800B market) and DeFi yields (5-7% on Sei), while enhancing wallet security for mass adoption.

• Projected: 50M+ new users by end-2026 via Xiaomi
• Ecosystem growth: $5M fund seeds mobile dApps
• Stablecoin surge: Ties into $15T global volume
• Risks: Regional regs (e.g., India bans); network scalability
• 2026 vision: Tokenized retail, AI-driven onboarding

Sei’s Xiaomi partnership embeds Web3 into millions of smartphones, turning daily devices into blockchain hubs and paving the way for seamless crypto in emerging markets.

For developers, check Sei’s grant portal; users, watch for Q2 2026 rollouts. Secure wallets remain key in this mobile revolution.