Best Crypto Cards in Bulgaria (2026)

Bulgaria regulates crypto under the EU's MiCA framework. The KFN (Komisiya za finansov nadzor, Financial Supervision Commission) oversees financial markets. The BNB (Bulgarska narodna banka, Bulgarian National Bank) manages monetary policy and maintains the EUR peg.

Bulgaria implemented 5AMLD/6AMLD through national legislation. Crypto service providers must register and comply with AML/KYC requirements. The NRA (Natsionalna agentsiya za prihodite, National Revenue Agency) handles tax collection.

Gnosis Pay, Plutus, and Wirex operate under EU licenses valid in Bulgaria. The BGN-EUR peg means near-zero FX conversion when using EUR-denominated cards.

Bulgaria benefits from full EU/MiCA protections while maintaining the EU's lowest flat tax rate at 10%.

Bulgaria applies a 10% flat tax on all personal income, including crypto gains - the lowest rate in the EU. Crypto gains are classified as capital gains under the ZDDFL (Zakon za danatsite varhu dohodite na fizicheskite litsa, Personal Income Tax Act).

Example: You bought BTC at BGN 2,000 and spend BGN 6,000 through your card. Gain = BGN 4,000. Tax = BGN 400 (10%).

Annual tax return (godishna danachna deklaratsiya) must be filed with the NRA by April 30. Each card transaction is a taxable disposal.

At 10%, Bulgaria has the EU's lowest crypto tax. Fund with USDC to eliminate even this small tax. BGN 4,000 gain costs only BGN 400.

Bulgarian crypto card applications require a lichna karta (Bulgarian national ID card) or pasport (passport) for citizens. EU/EEA citizens can use their national ID. Non-EU residents need a passport plus razreshenie za prebivavane (residence permit).

The EGN (Edinen grazhdanski nomer, Unified Civil Number, 10 digits) is the primary identifier. Proof of address via smetka za komunalni uslugi (utility bill), bankowo izvlechenie (bank statement from UniCredit Bulbank, DSK Bank), or dogowor za naem (rental agreement).

EU-licensed issuers verify against EU databases. Physical cards ship to Bulgarian addresses within 7-14 business days. Virtual cards are available immediately for Apple Pay and Google Pay use.

Lowest EU Tax + Lowest Cost of Living = Maximum Purchasing Power

Bulgaria's 10% flat tax is the EU's lowest. Combined with the lowest cost of living in the EU, crypto card cashback has maximum purchasing power here.

Card Selection by Use Case

• Gnosis Pay (4% cashback, free): Best EEA self-custody card
• Plutus (3% + perks, free tier): Best for subscription rebates
• KAST (2%, free): Best no-fee starter
• Wirex (up to 8%): Best for power users

Spending Scenario: BGN 2,000/month (~EUR 1,000)

BGN 960/year covers 2+ months of groceries from Kaufland or Lidl in Sofia, or 40+ restaurant meals.

BGN-EUR Peg Advantage

The BGN is pegged to EUR at 1.95583 (Currency Board). This means EUR-denominated crypto cards have near-zero FX risk. The peg has held since 1999 and Bulgaria is expected to join the eurozone.

Local Payment Infrastructure

Card acceptance is good and growing: shopping centers (Paradise Center, The Mall, Serdika Center in Sofia), supermarkets (Kaufland, Lidl, Billa, Fantastico), restaurants in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, and Burgas accept contactless Visa/Mastercard. Apple Pay is supported at major retailers. Cash is still common at mahala (neighborhood) shops and outdoor markets.

EU-licensed issuers: Gnosis Pay (4%, self-custody), Plutus (3% + perks), and Wirex (up to 8%) operate under EU licenses valid in Bulgaria. Crypto.com (up to 5%) and Bybit (2%) also serve Bulgarian users.

Local/regional: iChange.bg and other local platforms serve the Bulgarian market with BGN pairs. The growing tech scene in Sofia includes blockchain companies.

ether.fi (3%, credit-based) offers a borrow-to-spend model. At Bulgaria's low 10% rate, the tax savings from deferral are modest but still beneficial for staking yield optimization.

Bulgaria's 10% flat tax and low cost of living maximize the real-world value of crypto card cashback.