Compare Top Bulgarian Crypto Exchanges

1. Bybit

Bybit operates in Bulgaria through Bybit EU GmbH, a Vienna company licensed under MiCA by Austria's Financial Market Authority (FMA) on 28 May 2025. Its license is passported into Bulgaria, where it is recognized without separate FSC approval. On 4 August 2026, sister company Bybit Payments GmbH received an electronic money license from the same regulator, opening the way for euro accounts and payment products within the app.

On 5 October 2026, Bybit EU replaced its maker and taker pricing with a single fee of 0.25%. This falls to 0.15% at higher volume and 0.12% at the first VIP level. The old global rate of 0.1% no longer applies to European accounts. Deposits by SEPA are free through a personal IBAN, but withdrawals can return only to a bank account previously used to deposit. Trading pairs use euros or USDC because Tether's issuer has no MiCA authorization and USDT is absent.

Available products include spot margin up to 10x, recurring purchases, Bybit Earn and the Bybit Card. Futures and copy trading remain closed to EU accounts pending approval of the group's Austrian MiFID application, which is expected in late 2026. In February 2025, Bybit lost about $1.5 billion in ether to a North Korea-linked theft. Customer reserves were refilled within days, and Bybit has published proof of reserves since. Our Bybit review details the products.

Pros

• Austrian FMA MiCA license passported into Bulgaria, plus an electronic money license within the group.
• Free SEPA deposits to a personal IBAN, with euro and USDC pairs suited to a Bulgarian bank account.
• Spot margin, recurring buys, Bybit Earn and a spending card in one app.

Cons

• The unified 0.25% fee introduced in October 2026 exceeds the 0.1% rate most guides still quote.
• Around 100 coins on the EU entity, a fraction of the global platform's list.
• EU accounts cannot access futures, options, or copy trading, and there is no Bulgarian-language interface.

2. Kraken

Kraken contracts with Bulgarian customers through Payward Europe Solutions Limited. The Central Bank of Ireland authorized the company under MiCA on 25 June 2025. Payward Ireland, a licensed electronic money institution, holds euro balances, while a Cyprus investment firm within the group provides regulated derivatives. Further details appear in our Kraken review.

Kraken Pro's entry tier for European accounts charges 0.25% maker and 0.40% taker. Bulgarian users should use Pro from their first order to avoid the wide spread on Instant Buy. The Instant Buy fee starts at 1%, which is considered high compared to other exchanges on this list. Funding by SEPA or SEPA Instant is free from 1 euro. SEPA withdrawals cost 1 euro, compared with 3.75% plus 25 cents for card deposits.

The product range is the widest among licensed platforms open to Bulgarians. It includes regulated perpetual futures with up to 10x leverage and tokenized US shares called xStocks. Since August 2026, eligible customers have also had access to more than 7,000 real US stocks and ETFs. Kraken disclosed an extortion attempt in April 2026 after two support staff viewed about 2,000 customer profiles. The company stated that no funds were at risk. 

Pros

• Central Bank of Ireland MiCA license, with euro balances held at a separate licensed e-money institution.
• Free SEPA and SEPA Instant deposits, 600+ assets, and published proof of reserves.
• Eligible Bulgarian accounts can access regulated futures, xStocks and real US stocks.

Cons

• Instant Buy adds a wide spread; the 0.25% maker rate is available only on Pro.
• Insider access to customer data in 2025 and 2026 shows that support staff remain a weak point.
• It has no Bulgarian-language interface, and you can't deposit or trade USDT.

3. Bitpanda

Bitpanda offers crypto, stocks, ETFs and precious metals in one app, with trades starting at 1 euro. Based in Vienna, it received its MiCA license from Austria's FMA in April 2025. Fibank announced a partnership on 12 October 2026 that strengthened its relevance to Bulgaria. Bitpanda's crypto services will be added to the My Fibank app for the bank's one million customers.

Instead of a separate commission, Bitpanda includes a premium in its quoted price. Bitcoin carries a 0.99% premium; other coins range from zero to 2.49%. This model suits small regular purchases, though large trades cost more than on an order-book exchange. Bitpanda Fusion gives active traders fees starting at 0.02% maker and 0.25% taker. SEPA deposits and withdrawals are free, while PayPal costs 1.49%.

In August 2026, Austria's regulator fined Bitpanda GmbH 70,000 euros in the country's first published MiCA penalty. The sum was small but demonstrates the ongoing supervision attached to licensed status. Bulgarian residents now qualify for the Bitpanda Card because it is open to euro-area residents. Our Bitpanda countries page lists where the service operates.

Pros

• Austrian FMA MiCA license, a 1 euro minimum trade and savings plans for regular purchases.
• Planned My Fibank integration, the first bank-embedded crypto service announced in Bulgaria.
• Crypto, stocks, ETFs and metals in one account, with free SEPA transfers.

Cons

• The 0.99% Bitcoin premium is several times what an order-book exchange charges on large trades.
• Smaller coins carry premiums of up to 2.49%, making costs dependent on the asset.
• A 70,000 euro FMA fine in August 2026, and no Bulgarian-language support.

4. Coinbase

Coinbase moved Bulgarian customers to Coinbase Luxembourg S.A. under its EEA user agreement. Luxembourg's CSSF had granted the entity a MiCA license on 20 June 2025. Coinbase Ireland provides euro e-money services under Central Bank of Ireland supervision. The main app offers the simplest way to buy Bitcoin in Bulgaria, but small orders are the most expensive on this list. 

Simple purchases include a spread and a Coinbase fee determined by the payment method. Switching to Coinbase Advanced after the first purchase cuts costs by more than half, with entry-tier fees of 0.40% maker and 0.60% taker. SEPA deposits cost a few cents at most, and withdrawals are free. Card purchases cost close to 4%. Our Coinbase review goes into the fees in detail.

European customers lost access to USDT in December 2024. Coinbase offers USDC and the euro stablecoin EURC instead, alongside staking on ether, Solana and other assets with a 35% commission on rewards. An insider data breach disclosed in May 2025 exposed identity documents and balances belonging to about 69,000 customers. Coinbase refunded people scammers deceived using that data. 

Pros

• Luxembourg CSSF MiCA license, with euro e-money services provided by a separately licensed Irish entity.
• Simplest app for a first purchase, plus staking and the USDC and EURC stablecoins.
• SEPA deposits cost a few cents at most, with free withdrawals.

Cons

• Simple buys cost more than on any other platform here, and Advanced takes some learning.
• The 2025 insider breach exposed identity documents and balances of tens of thousands of customers.
• The company's own pages do not confirm Coinbase Card or derivatives availability for Bulgarian accounts.

5. Gate

Gate serves Bulgaria through Malta-based Gate Technology Limited. On 29 September 2025, the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) authorized it under MiCA for custody, operating a trading platform, exchange and transfer services. Its license covers euros only and carries no MiFID permission. Leveraged products advertised on the global site therefore fall outside its scope for EU customers.

More than 1,400 cryptocurrencies make coin selection the main reason to choose Gate. Its catalog is several times larger than any other platform's here. Spot trading costs 0.10% maker and 0.10% taker, with discounts for GT holders. Funding in euros is less convenient than on Bybit or Kraken. Eligible accounts must send SEPA transfers through the OTC desk, while card purchases buy crypto directly instead of adding to a euro balance.

We found no incident affecting customer funds in 2025 or 2026. Gate maintains an insurance fund and publishes proof of reserves above 100%. Its home screen is crowded with Earn products, bots, and launch programs, making the interface better suited to experienced altcoin traders than first-time buyers. For more information on the exchange’s services and products, visit our Gate review.

Pros

• Malta MFSA MiCA license and proof of reserves above 100%.
• More than 1,400 listed coins, with fast listings of new tokens.
• Spot fees of 0.10% maker and 0.10% taker, reduced further with GT.

Cons

• Euro funding requires the OTC desk or direct card purchases instead of a simple SEPA top-up.
• The EU entity's license does not cover futures or other leveraged products.
• A crowded interface and slow support make Gate a poor first exchange.

6. OKX

OKX became the first large global exchange to obtain a MiCA license through Malta-based OKX Europe Limited. The MFSA authorization covers nine of the ten services defined by MiCA. Sister company OKX Europe Markets Limited holds a MiFID license, allowing it to offer perpetual contracts to EU customers who pass an appropriateness test.

OKX’s standard European spot fees start at 0.20% maker and 0.35% taker. Eligible customers who open an X-Perps account receive lower spot rates of 0.08% maker and 0.10% taker. OKX charges nothing for SEPA deposits, and withdrawals to a Bulgarian IBAN are free. Transfers must originate from a bank account in the customer's own name. USDT deposits arrive frozen on EU accounts, though USDC and USDG are supported.

The built-in self-custody wallet lets Bulgarian users move from the exchange to decentralized applications without installing another app. Two issues weigh on the group's record. It pleaded guilty in the USA in February 2025 to running an unlicensed money transmitting business. In April 2025, Malta's financial intelligence unit fined OKX about 1.05 million euros for anti-money-laundering failures. Both are covered in our OKX review.

Pros

• Malta MFSA MiCA license covering nine services, plus a MiFID license for regulated perpetuals.
• Spot fees of 0.08% maker and 0.10% taker for eligible customers with an X-Perps account, alongside free SEPA Instant deposits.
• Self-custody Web3 wallet and OKX Card within the same app.

Cons

• A 2025 US guilty plea and an AML fine in Malta weigh on its record.
• Low Trustpilot scores, with frequent complaints about slow support.
• No Bulgarian-language interface or local support.

How to Choose a Crypto Exchange in Bulgaria

Bulgarian users should make five checks to distinguish a safe choice from a costly one.

1. Check the MiCA register: ESMA publishes a register of every crypto-asset service provider authorized under MiCA, and any exchange listed there with an EU license can serve Bulgarian customers. The FSC adds its own register of Bulgarian-licensed providers. An exchange not listed in either has no right to operate in Bulgaria.
2. Match the deposit method to your bank: All six platforms accept SEPA transfers from accounts in the customer's own name at UniCredit Bulbank, DSK Bank, UBB, Postbank, Fibank or Revolut.
3. Price the complete transaction: Cards add 2% to 4% before trading fees, while simple buy screens include a spread in the quoted price. A 1,000 euro purchase funded by SEPA and placed as a limit order on Kraken Pro or OKX costs a few euros. Using a card on a simple interface can raise that cost to 40 euros or more.
4. Check which stablecoins are offered: Licensed exchanges cannot offer USDT trading to EU customers. Dollar exposure therefore means USDC, and euro exposure means EURC. See our page on USDT's legal status by country for more detail.
5. Decide who holds the coins: Exchange custody suits active trading. Long-term holdings belong in a wallet the user controls, with options compared in our best crypto wallets guide.

Binance's removal follows these checks. Its global trading volume cannot justify recommending a platform that no longer accepts new deposits from Bulgarian customers.

Crypto and Bitcoin Regulation in Bulgaria

Crypto is legal in Bulgaria. Since 2025, national law has applied the EU's MiCA framework, with the FSC supervising service providers and the Bulgarian National Bank overseeing e-money token issuers. Tax and exchange reporting fall to the National Revenue Agency.

• July 2025, the Markets in Crypto-Assets Act: Parliament adopted the Закон за пазарите на криптоактиви in June 2025, and it took effect on 8 July 2025. The Act designates the FSC as the licensing authority and transfers the register of crypto firms from the NRA to the FSC. Company fines can reach 1.5% of annual turnover.
• December 2025, the first Bulgarian license: Alaric Securities received the FSC's first MiCA authorization on 22 December 2025. Belayer, Altcoins BG, Digital Assist and FF Digital followed in 2026, bringing the register to five companies.
• 1 January 2026, euro adoption: Bulgaria became the 21st euro-area member at a fixed conversion rate of 1.95583 leva per euro. Dual circulation ended on 31 January, followed by the end of dual price display on 8 August 2026.
• 1 July 2026, the end of the MiCA transition: Bulgaria used the full 18-month transition recorded in ESMA's list of national periods. In its 23 June 2026 statement, ESMA told unlicensed providers to stop onboarding EU customers. The FSC confirmed on 30 June that only licensed firms could operate.
• July 2026, Binance restricted: After withdrawing its Greek license application on 24 June 2026, Binance said some EU customers would be affected. New sign-ups, deposits and spot orders stopped for EU residents on 1 July, while withdrawals remained open.
• September 2026, DAC8 reporting: On 9 September 2026, Parliament amended the Tax and Social Insurance Procedure Code to give the NRA automatic access to exchange data on Bulgarian users. The rules apply from 1 January 2026.
• October 2026, enforcement begins: The FSC published its first list of unlicensed crypto websites on 8 October 2026. It gave them three days to stop serving Bulgarians and can now ask the Sofia District Court to block them.

The next deadline is 10 July 2027, when the EU Anti-Money Laundering Regulation prohibits licensed providers from offering anonymous crypto accounts and privacy coins. Separately, Bulgarian banks must offer euro instant transfers from 1 January 2027, according to the Bulgarian National Bank.

How Does the NRA Tax Crypto in Bulgaria?

Bulgaria's flat 10% personal income tax applies to profits from selling or swapping crypto. The National Revenue Agency (NRA) classifies crypto-assets as financial assets, rather than currency or property, in its guidance on crypto taxation.

• Taxable income under Article 33(3): Add the gains from each sale during the year and subtract the losses. Since 1 January 2024, the statute reduces that net figure by 10% through a standard expense allowance, producing an effective tax rate of 9%.
• Swaps count as sales: Exchanging one coin for another is a taxable disposal even when no euros change hands. The gain is the market value of the coin received minus the acquisition cost of the coin given.
• Losses: Individuals can offset losses against gains only within the same calendar year. There is no carry-forward.
• Trading as a business: Systematic professional trading or mining with dedicated equipment is treated as sole-trader activity. Profit is taxed at 15%, plus social and health contributions, and declared in Annex 2.
• Filing and payment: Declare individual gains in Annex 5 of the annual return and pay by 30 April. Filing online and paying by 31 March qualifies for a 5% discount capped at 255.65 euros. Exchanges do not withhold tax.
• Reporting to the NRA: Every licensed or passported exchange must report Bulgarian customers' 2026 purchases, sales, swaps and transfers under DAC8 by 30 June 2027. No minimum threshold applies.

The NRA has published no ruling on staking rewards or lending interest. Bulgarian accountants disagree on whether to tax them as other income when received or as zero-cost assets when sold. Bulgaria's flat 10% rate still compares favorably with most of the EU, as shown in our low-tax crypto countries guide.

Cryptocurrency Adoption in Bulgaria

Bulgaria's crypto population numbers in the low hundreds of thousands. The country also has a large home-grown lending company, while banks have only recently begun offering crypto to retail customers.

• Around 300,000 investors: Triple-A's 2024 data put crypto ownership at 6.15% of Bulgarians. In a March 2026 BNT interview, Dimitar Delchev of the PAN Blockchain Association estimated about 300,000 investors, adding that the true figure could be far higher.
• Revolut as the largest gateway: By the end of 2025, Revolut had 1.3 million Bulgarian customers. Its MiCA-licensed crypto service and Bulgarian-language app give it the widest reach of any crypto-capable platform in the country.
• Banks entering the market: Fibank's October 2026 Bitpanda agreement and Postbank's investing module planned for 2027 mark the first moves by Bulgarian banks to add crypto to their own apps.
• Crypto ATMs: FSC-licensed Digital Assist operates eight crypto ATMs across Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas. Buying costs 3%, and selling costs 4%.

Bulgaria does not rank among the top 20 countries in Chainalysis's 2026 Global Crypto Adoption Index. Annual inflation reached 5.6% in September 2026, well above the euro-area average, giving the inflation-hedge argument greater weight than elsewhere in the currency union. Our crypto adoption statistics page places these figures in global context.

How to Buy Bitcoin in Bulgaria

A Bulgarian resident can buy Bitcoin on a licensed exchange in about one business day with a euro account. Follow these steps to buy BTC through a licensed exchange:

1. Open an account on a licensed exchange: Register with Bybit or another platform in this ranking. Check the FSC's notification list to confirm that the entity serving you is licensed.
2. Verify your identity: Submit a Bulgarian identity card or passport and confirm your address. Complete the tax residence declaration now required by DAC8.
3. Send euros by SEPA: Use your own account at UniCredit Bulbank, DSK Bank, UBB, Postbank, Fibank or Revolut to transfer euros to the exchange's IBAN. Your sender name must match your verified name. Standard SEPA transfers arrive the next business day.
4. Buy Bitcoin with euros: Select the BTC/EUR market and check the fee and total purchase amount before confirming. A limit order lets you set your purchase price, but it may not fill immediately. Use the exchange’s advanced trading interface where it offers lower costs than the simple purchase screen.
5. Send coins you plan to keep to a personal wallet: Leave only your active trading balance on the exchange and transfer the rest to a hardware or software wallet. Keep the purchase date and euro cost of each transaction for the NRA.

When selling, place a limit order for euros and withdraw by SEPA to the bank account used for deposits. Record the sale for your Annex 5 declaration.

Final Thoughts

Bybit remains our first choice for most Bulgarian users. Free SEPA deposits, its licensed Austrian entity, and the full spot, margin, and Earn offering outweigh the October 2026 fee increase.

January's euro adoption and July's end to the MiCA transition both favor licensed platforms offering direct euro deposits. Binance's withdrawal from new EU business shows how quickly an unlicensed provider can lose Bulgarian customers. Check the FSC's lists before depositing and send a small SEPA test transfer. Keep dated records of every trade for the NRA.

Our Methodology

Our ranking uses six criteria relevant to Bulgarian residents in late 2026.

1. Trust score: We assessed MiCA licensing strength and security history alongside proof-of-reserves reporting and customer treatment after incidents.
2. License and passport check: Platforms had to appear in both the ESMA register of authorized providers and the FSC's Article 65 notification list. Binance was removed after failing this check.
3. Euro funding from Bulgarian banks: Each account received a SEPA transfer from a Bulgarian euro account. We recorded deposit and withdrawal fees, arrival times and restrictions on matching account names.
4. Transaction costs: We compared deposit charges, trading fees, quoted spreads and withdrawal fees to assess the cost of buying and selling Bitcoin.
5. Products open to Bulgarian accounts: Only features available through the EU entity counted. Products closed to EU customers were excluded.
6. Local relevance: Bank partnerships and language support informed our assessment of each platform's practical value to someone paid in euros and taxed by the NRA.

We checked fees, licensing details and product availability between August and October 2026, including Bybit EU's 5 October fee change. Our editorial methodology explains the full process.