site.bta218 Mln Euro Coins to Be Minted in 2026 According to BNB Budget

The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) plans to mint 218 million euro coins for circulation in 2026 as announced in the BNB 2026 budget, adopted by the Governing Council on December 8, 2025, and published in the State Gazette. The budget is available and published on the central bank's official website. 

The planned quantity of euro coins includes one million commemorative coins with a face value of EUR 2. The planned expenditure for the minting of new euro coins in 2026 is EUR 43.9 million, representing a 47.7% decrease compared to 2025. Of this, EUR 6.5 million is earmarked for the minting of commemorative and collector coins in accordance with the Commemorative coinage programme adopted by the BNB's Governing Council. The planned expenditure for the minting and delivering of euro coins for circulation in 2026 amounts to EUR 37.4 million, a 32.9% decrease compared to the funds allocated for 2025. According to the BNB, funds for the minting and delivery of euro coins planned for issue in 2027 are also included. Overall, the costs associated with maintaining cash circulation in 2026 amount to EUR 49.937 million, representing 28% of the central bank's total maintenance costs for the year. This is a decrease compared to the funds approved in the 2025 budget.

The cost of new banknotes is EUR 511,000, which is a 91.2% decrease compared to the 2025 budget of the BNB. Expenses totalling EUR 78,000 are planned for designing new banknotes and coins in 2026, which is 4% more than the funds approved for 2025.  A total of EUR 1,467,000 is planned for the destruction of banknotes and coins, as well as expert assessments, in 2026. This is an increase of EUR 1,447,000 compared to 2025, and is related to the destruction of Bulgarian banknotes, coins and coin blanks.

The total amount of the BNB's operating expenses for 2026 has been set at EUR 178.49 million, which is EUR 9.569 million (5.1%) less than the budget for 2025. This is the result of a reduction in planned expenditure on currency maintenance and materials, offset by an increase in planned expenditure on external services, BNB participation in the European System of Central Banks, Single Supervisory Mechanism, European Systemic Risk Board and European Banking Authority, personnel expenses, depreciation and other costs.

According to the BNB, the budget for 2026 has been prepared to ensure the functioning of the bank during Bulgaria's first year of membership in the eurozone, during which time the BNB will operate as a full member of the Eurosystem. The budget is financed entirely from the BNB's own resources.