Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026. Bank accounts switched automatically at 1.95583 leva to the euro, leva cash stopped being legal tender on 1 February, and the Bulgarian National Bank still exchanges leva for free. Here is what changed, what didn't, and where digital euros fit in.

On 1 January 2026 Bulgaria became the 21st country to use the euro. For most people the change took no effort: bank balances, salaries and prices switched overnight at a fixed rate. A few things are still worth knowing, from how to exchange old leva to what it means for transfers abroad.

This guide covers what changed for your money, what stayed the same, and where digital euros fit in now that the euro is Bulgaria's own currency.

The fixed rate

Everything converted at one rate, set in advance: 1.95583 leva to 1 euro. It's the same rate the lev had been pegged at for more than two decades, so the value of your money didn't change, only the unit.

Amounts were converted using the full rate and only the final euro amount was rounded, to the nearest cent.

Bank accounts, loans and cards

On 1 January 2026, accounts, deposits and loans in leva switched to euros automatically, at the official rate and at no cost. You didn't need to do anything, and your IBAN stayed the same. Standing orders and direct debits carried on in euros, and cards started paying and withdrawing in euros from day one.

Loan terms didn't change because of the switch: the balance was converted at the same rate, and the interest terms in your contract still apply.

Cash and exchanging leva

Leva and euros circulated side by side for one month. From 1 February 2026, only euros are legal tender, and shops no longer accept leva.

Banks and Bulgarian Post exchanged leva for euros free of charge until 30 June 2026. If you still have leva banknotes or coins, the Bulgarian National Bank exchanges them for free, in any amount and with no time limit, at the official rate.

Sending money abroad

Payments to other euro-area countries are now euro payments on both ends, with no currency exchange, sent by SEPA like a domestic transfer. EU rules require banks to offer SEPA Instant, which arrives in about ten seconds, at no extra charge over a regular transfer.

For payments outside the euro area, you still pay for currency conversion. Our guide to sending money abroad compares the options.

Where digital euros fit

The euro in your bank account is one form of euro. There are others:

  • Digital euros from private issuers. EURC, issued by Circle and backed by euro reserves, is a euro stablecoin you can hold in a wallet you control and send to anyone on a public network in seconds, at any hour.
  • The digital euro. A form of central bank money planned by the European Central Bank, which is not in use yet. We explain it in what is the digital euro.

For everyday payments in Bulgaria, your bank account does the job. Digital euros like EURC are useful when you want euros under your own control, payments that never wait for banking hours, or an easy move between euros and digital dollars (USDC).

Euros in Defied

Defied is a wallet for EURC and USDC that only you control. With a personal IBAN, where available, euros sent to you by SEPA from a Bulgarian bank arrive in your wallet as EURC, and you can send them back to your bank when you need to. You can also swap to USDC, send to anyone on Base, and lend in public markets at variable rates.

Defied isn't a bank, and EURC isn't a bank deposit, so there's no deposit guarantee. Read the risk disclosure before you deposit, and see our fees page for what top-ups and withdrawals cost.

Sources

Start with Defied

Defied is a wallet for EURC and USDC that only you control. Hold, send and swap them, and lend in public onchain markets at variable rates, without a bank. Get the app for iPhone, or use it in your browser.

This article is for informational purposes only. Defied is a non-custodial software interface and does not provide financial advice. Please read our risk disclosure and terms of use before using the Services.

Last updated: 2026-11-02

Frequently asked questions

Can I still exchange leva for euros?

Yes. The Bulgarian National Bank exchanges leva banknotes and coins for euros free of charge, with no time limit, at the official rate of 1.95583 leva to the euro. Free exchange at commercial banks and post offices ended on 30 June 2026.

Did my IBAN change when Bulgaria adopted the euro?

No. Bank accounts in leva switched to euros automatically on 1 January 2026, at the official rate and free of charge, and kept the same IBAN.

Are transfers to other euro countries now domestic?

In practice, yes. Euro transfers within the euro area use SEPA, and EU rules require banks to charge the same for SEPA Instant as for a regular transfer. Check your bank's own tariff for its fees.

Is EURC the same as the digital euro?

No. EURC is a stablecoin issued by Circle, a private company, and backed by euro reserves. The digital euro is a planned form of central bank money from the European Central Bank, which is not in use yet.

Do I need a stablecoin now that Bulgaria uses the euro?

Not for everyday payments in euros. Digital euros like EURC are useful if you want euros in a wallet you control, payments that settle at any hour, or to move between euros and digital dollars.

This article is for general information only and is not investment, legal or tax advice. Any rates mentioned are third-party protocol or market rates at the time of writing; they change constantly and are not offered or guaranteed by Defied. Stablecoins are not bank deposits and are not covered by deposit guarantee schemes. Defied is a non-custodial software interface and does not hold customer assets. Read the Risk Disclosure before using the service.