Key Points You Should Know
- Bulgaria will adopt the euro (EUR) on January 1, 2026.
- The exchange rate is fixed at 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN (Bulgarian lev).
- Revolut and other financial apps are updating their Terms & Conditions to reflect this change.
- From December 17, 2025, all accounts in lev (BGN) will automatically convert to euros.
- Sending or receiving money in BGN will no longer be possible after the set cut-off dates.
- You don’t need to do anything — unless you’d rather close your account before the change.
Why Bulgaria Is Adopting the Euro
After years of preparation, Bulgaria will become the 21st member of the euro area on January 1, 2026.
The European Union confirmed the decision in July 2025, following economic checks known as the Convergence Reports by the European Central Bank (ECB) and the European Commission (EC).
This move ties Bulgaria more closely to Europe’s shared currency system, aiming for greater price stability, easier trade, and lower exchange costs.
What This Means for Your Revolut Account
1. Your BGN balance will become EUR automatically
If you have a Pocket (wallet) in Bulgarian lev (BGN), Revolut will automatically convert your balance to euros at the official rate 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN on December 17, 2025.
There’s no fee, and your account details will stay the same.
2. Transfers in BGN will stop before the switch
You won’t be able to:
- Send bank transfers in BGN after November 27, 2025.
- Receive BGN transfers after December 10, 2025.
These cut-off dates allow the payment systems to prepare for the euro transition.
3. Fees will appear in euros
From December 17, 2025, Revolut will display and charge all standard fees — such as subscriptions or transaction costs — in EUR instead of BGN.
The fee amounts themselves won’t change; only the currency label will.
4. Group “Pockets” will close
If you share a group Pocket in BGN with friends or family, it will close automatically on December 17, 2025.
Any remaining balance will move to the group administrator’s main account and then be converted to euros.
If you prefer to divide the funds yourself, it’s best to do it before that date.
5. Chargebacks will use EUR
Even if a past payment was made in BGN, any refund or chargeback after December 17, 2025 will be processed in euros.
What You Should Do Now
- Check your accounts for any BGN balances.
- Stop sending or receiving BGN transfers before the deadlines.
- Read Revolut’s updated Terms & Conditions when they become available in December 2025.
- Plan ahead if you use BGN group Pockets or receive payments in that currency.
- If you don’t agree with the updates, you can close your account for free at any time before the change.
The Bigger Picture
Bulgaria’s switch to the euro is part of its long-term integration into the European Union (EU) economy.
For customers of apps like Revolut, this means smoother travel within Europe, no conversion costs between BGN and EUR, and a simpler banking experience overall.
However, some Bulgarians remain cautious, worried about possible price increases — a common fear when new countries join the euro area.
Simple Definition
Euro (EUR)
The common currency used by 20 EU countries, managed by the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt. Bulgaria will be the 21st member to adopt it.
Lev (BGN)
Bulgaria’s national currency before 2026. It has been pegged to the euro since 1999 at a fixed rate of 1.95583 BGN = 1 EUR.
Timeline at a Glance
- July 10, 2020 – Bulgaria joins ERM II (Exchange Rate Mechanism II), the waiting room for adopting the euro.
- June 4, 2025 – ECB and EC confirm Bulgaria meets all requirements.
- July 8, 2025 – EU Council approves Bulgaria’s entry on January 1, 2026.
- November 27, 2025 – Last day to send BGN transfers via Revolut.
- December 10, 2025 – Last day to receive BGN transfers.
- December 17, 2025 – Revolut updates Terms & Conditions; all BGN wallets convert to EUR.
- January 1, 2026 – The euro officially becomes Bulgaria’s currency.
Sources (all verified and live)
- European Central Bank – “Bulgaria to join euro area on 1 January 2026”
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2025/html/ecb.pr250708~b9676a9fa8.en.html - Council of the European Union – “Bulgaria ready to use the euro from 1 January 2026”
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/07/08/bulgaria-ready-to-use-the-euro-from-1-january-2026-council-takes-final-steps/ - European Commission – 2025 Convergence Report (Bulgaria)
https://economy-finance.ec.europa.eu/publications/convergence-report-2025-bulgaria_en - Reuters – “EU gives Bulgaria green light to adopt euro from start of 2026”
https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/eu-gives-bulgaria-green-light-adopt-euro-start-2026-2025-06-04/ - Evroto.bg – Official Bulgarian government site on euro adoption
https://evroto.bg/en
(All information verified on October 18, 2025, Europe/Amsterdam time.)
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 