site.bta87% of Leva Withdrawn from Circulation Two Months After Euro Adoption

As of February 27, BGN 3.9 billion in Bulgarian leva banknotes and coins remain outside the cash offices of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), meaning that 87% of the national currency which was in circulation at the beginning of 2025 has been withdrawn, the central bank reported on its website on Friday.

Bulgaria adopted the euro on January 1, 2026. The single European currency is now the sole legal tender in the country.

BNB said that the process of withdrawing banknotes and coins in leva and putting euro banknotes and euro coins into circulation is being carried out in accordance with the applicable regulatory framework and the approved operational plans.

Euro banknotes and euro coins in circulation in Bulgaria (net issuance, i.e. the difference between the euro banknotes and euro coins withdrawn from and deposited with the BNB) amount to more than EUR 7.5 billion as of February 27, ensuring the normal functioning of the payment system and the servicing of the economy and the population, the central bank added.