Bulgaria will adopt the euro on January 1, 2026, and to ease the transition, commercial banks will begin selling euro “starter packs” this December—coin-only kits for individuals and mixed kits for businesses. The early distribution aims to reduce pressure on ATMs and exchanges, ensuring smoother adoption of the euro and minimizing disruptions at the start of 2026.
Euro Coin starter packs to launch in Bulgaria ahead of currency switch
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Bulgaria
Author: Nikolina Basić
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Fiscal subject related
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2605
Content accuracy validation date:
27.08.2025
Content accuracy validation time:
08:12h
Bulgaria is preparing for a major monetary change as the country prepares to adopt the euro as its official currency on January 1, 2026. In anticipation of the transition, commercial banks across the nation will begin offering euro coin "starter packs" to citizens and businesses starting this December.
The starter packs will provide Bulgarians with early access to euro cash, helping smooth the shift from the lev to the euro. Individuals will be able to purchase up to two kits per transaction, each priced at 20 leva and containing €10.23 worth of coins—based on the fixed exchange rate of 1.95583 leva per euro. Businesses, meanwhile, can acquire larger kits valued at 200 leva, containing €102.30 in a mix of coins and banknotes. There will be no limit on the number of packs companies can purchase.
- For individuals: Coin-only kits, typically packaged in paper.
- For businesses: Mixed kits with both coins and banknotes.
Beginning in November, companies will also be able to access larger quantities of euro cash through a pre-supply arrangement known as “top-up”. This option requires prior contractual agreements and is designed to ensure businesses are well-stocked before the official currency change.
Authorities hope the early distribution will reduce pressure on ATMs and currency exchange offices in the new year. By giving Bulgarians a head start, the initiative aims to minimize disruptions and long queues once the euro officially replaces the lev.
With the countdown to euro adoption underway, December’s rollout of starter packs marks a pivotal step in Bulgaria’s integration into the eurozone.
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