As January 1, 2026 approaches, when Bulgaria officially adopts the euro, the worries that there may not be enough small change coins are growing among businesses and customers. Small merchants are particularly concerned about whether they will be able to provide starting sums in euro cents for everyday payments in time.

According to the BNB and the European Central Bank, the quantities of euro coins issued should be sufficient for a smooth start. The Central Bank assures that additional requests for coins have been made and that the loading is on schedule – banks, post offices and merchants receive sets of small euros from November and December.

Nevertheless, small and medium-sized businesses claim that the grace period – only 1 month of dual circulation – is not enough, and in rural areas the supply of coins is slower. "We assume that there will be delays in deliveries, especially outside the big cities," commented from farming associations.

According to analysts, the switch to the euro is not threatened by a large-scale collapse, but delays or a temporary shortage of change coins are possible in the first days – a scenario observed in other eurozone countries during the transition. The BNB advises consumers to use payment cards and sellers to stock up on starting euro kits as early as possible"