Best Crypto Cards in Bulgaria 2026

Spending crypto in Bulgaria carries a hidden cost that has nothing to do with blockchain gas fees. The National Revenue Agency (NRA) views every single card transaction as a taxable disposal of financial assets. Buying a coffee with Bitcoin triggers a flat 10% tax on the capital gain, and there is no exemption for small transactions. This administrative burden means a crypto card needs to offer significant utility or rewards to justify the accounting headache.

The landscape for Bulgarian users shifted dramatically on January 1, 2026. With the country's full adoption of the Euro, the friction for using European-issued crypto cards vanished overnight. You no longer lose 1-2% on foreign exchange (FX) fees converting spending to Bulgarian Lev (BGN). Cards that settle in Euro, like Gnosis Pay, are now effectively local debit cards.

However, the banking sector remains hostile. Bulgarian banks continue to "de-risk" by blocking transfers to crypto entities, making reliable off-ramps scarce. The cards in this roundup solve this by allowing you to spend directly from on-chain sources or self-custodial wallets, bypassing the local banking blockade entirely.

For a full list of crypto cards available in Bulgaria, see our Bulgaria crypto cards page.

At-a-Glance Comparison

The following table breaks down the fee structures and reward potential for the top five contenders available to Bulgarian residents.

Card	Tiers Compared	Cashback	Annual Fee	FX Fee	Staking
Ether.Fi Cash Card	Core, Luxe, Pinnacle	3% (wETH)	Free	1%	None to ~$46,000
Ready Card	Lite Card, Metal Card	0.5-3% (STRK)	Free	0%	None
Kolo Card	Standard	2% (BTC)	Free	0%	None
PAYY Card	Virtual PAYY Card, Light-Up Physical Card	None	Free	1%	None
Gnosis Pay Card	Base Card, Tier 2, Tier 4	0-4% (GNO)	Free	0%	None to ~$13,000

Ether.Fi Cash Card Review: Borrow-Against-Spend

Verdict: The best option for DeFi power users who want to keep their ETH staked while spending.

The Ether.Fi Cash Card operates on a fundamentally different model than traditional prepaid cards. Instead of selling your crypto to load a balance, this card connects to a Gnosis Safe wallet on the Scroll Layer 2 (L2) network. When you swipe the card, the protocol can borrow against your yield-bearing collateral (like eETH). This allows your assets to continue compounding in DeFi protocols right up until the moment of purchase.

Rewards and Staking
The rewards structure is aggressive but tiered. The Core tier offers 3% cashback in Wrapped Ethereum (wETH) without any staking requirement. This is exceptionally high for a free tier. High-net-worth users can unlock the Pinnacle tier by staking 100,000 ETHFI (approximately $46,000). While the cashback rate remains similar, the tier unlocks lifestyle perks. However, users must be aware that the 3% cashback is paid in wETH. If Ethereum's price drops, the dollar value of your rewards drops with it.

Bulgaria-Specific Context
For Bulgarian users, the 1% FX fee is a notable friction point if the card settles in USD, as most transactions locally are now in Euro. Additionally, the "borrow" model introduces complexity regarding the 10% flat tax. While borrowing is generally not a taxable event, the eventual repayment of the loan using crypto collateral is a disposal event in the eyes of the NRA. You will need to track these repayments carefully.

Best for: Investors with significant ETH holdings who want to preserve their position while accessing liquidity.

Ready Card Review: High Cashback Without Staking

Verdict: The top choice for high spenders who want maximum returns without locking up capital.

The Ready Card (formerly associated with Argent) pushes the concept of self-custody. It uses account abstraction and "session keys" to keep funds in your wallet until the exact second of purchase. This eliminates the counterparty risk of holding funds on a centralized exchange card. The card is issued by Kulipa and focuses heavily on the USDC stablecoin.

Rewards and Fees
The standout feature is the rewards rate on the Metal Card. You earn 3% cashback on all spend, paid in STRK tokens. There is no staking requirement to access this rate. Instead, you pay an upfront annual fee of 120 USDC. For a user spending $1,500 monthly, the net return is approximately $35 per month after factoring in the fee. The Lite Card offers a lower 0.5% rate but costs nothing upfront. The 0% FX fee is a major advantage for Bulgarian residents spending in Euro, as it prevents the card from eating into your purchasing power.

Notable Weaknesses
The rewards are paid in STRK. This is a highly volatile token compared to BTC or stablecoins. A 3% return can evaporate if the STRK token price crashes. Furthermore, the card is strictly limited to USDC/USDC.e. You cannot spend USDT or ETH directly. You must manually swap your assets into USDC before spending.

Best for: Users who spend over $500/month and are comfortable managing USDC liquidity.

Kolo Card Review: Simple BTC Rewards

Verdict: A solid entry-level card for those who want Bitcoin exposure on daily spending.

Kolo Card markets itself on simplicity and accessibility. It uses a hybrid custody model where users retain legal title to assets, but the company manages the technical execution. The card's "Swap by Kolo" engine routes trades through various exchanges to find efficient pricing at the moment of sale.

Rewards and Features
The primary draw is the 2% cashback paid in Bitcoin (BTC). For Bulgarian users facing a 10% tax on gains, earning rewards in the hardest asset helps offset that cost. Kolo also introduces "Memepay," allowing direct spending of memecoins like PEPE. While novel, spending volatile memecoins for daily goods is generally poor financial strategy due to spread and tax implications.

Regulatory Risks
Kolo operates under a "testing regulatory regime" with a pending FinTech Lab license. This is significant. The company reserves the right to reduce spending limits to $0 without notice. For a daily driver card, this operational uncertainty is a major risk factor.

Best for: Casual users who want to accumulate Bitcoin passively and don't mind regulatory ambiguity.

PAYY Card Review: Privacy Over Profit

Verdict: The only option for users who prioritize on-chain privacy above all else.

PAYY is a specialized tool. It runs on its own "Payy Network" blockchain and utilizes zero-knowledge proofs to shield transaction amounts and balances from public view. Most crypto cards leave a clear on-chain trail linking your wallet to the card issuer. PAYY breaks that link.

The Trade-off
The cost of this privacy is the absence of rewards. There is 0% cashback. In a market where competitors offer 3-4%, using PAYY effectively costs you money. For a Bulgarian user spending €1,500 a month, using PAYY instead of the Ready Card means missing out on roughly €45 in value every month. Additionally, the physical card is contactless-only. If you encounter an older terminal in a rural Bulgarian shop that requires a chip insert, this card will fail.

Bulgaria-Specific Context
The 1% FX fee is a downside for Euro spending. However, for users concerned about the increasing scrutiny from local banks and the NRA, the privacy features may outweigh the financial costs.

Best for: Privacy advocates who require zero-knowledge proof protection for their spending habits.

Gnosis Pay Card Review: The Euro-Native Solution

Verdict: The most practical daily driver for Bulgarian residents following Euro adoption.

The Gnosis Pay Card is the clear technical winner for the European market. It connects a Visa card directly to a Gnosis Safe smart contract wallet. Crucially, it supports EURe (a Euro stablecoin) natively on the Gnosis Chain. Since Bulgaria adopted the Euro in 2026, this card functions like a native bank account but without the bank.

Rewards and Economics
The Base Card has no monthly fee and 0% FX fees. This makes it the most cost-effective option for spending in Bulgaria. Rewards are paid in GNO tokens. The Base Card earns nothing, but staking 1 GNO (approx. $150) unlocks 2% cashback. Serious investors can stake 100 GNO (~$13,000) to reach 4%. In our scenario analysis of $1,500 monthly spend, the Tier 4 card delivered the highest net return of $60/month.

Setup Complexity
This is not a beginner card. You must bridge funds to Gnosis Chain and swap into EURe, GBPe, or USDCe. If you hold your wealth in USDT on Tron or ETH on Mainnet, you face a series of bridges and swaps before you can buy groceries. Once set up, however, the experience is seamless.

Best for: Bulgarian locals who want a primary spending card that integrates with the Euro economy.

Category Winners

Best No-Staking Option: Ready Card
If you refuse to lock up capital in volatile tokens, the Ready Card is the superior choice. The Metal tier offers 3% cashback for a flat annual fee. You maintain liquidity and still earn a rate that beats most traditional bank cards.

Best Overall Value: Gnosis Pay (Tier 2)
For a modest stake of ~1 GNO ($150), you unlock 2% cashback with zero FX fees and zero gas fees on transactions. Given the Euro-native architecture, this offers the smoothest experience for Bulgarian residents with minimal financial risk.

Best for High Net Worth: Ether.Fi Cash Card
If you already hold substantial ETH, the Ether.Fi card allows you to monetize that capital without selling it. The ability to borrow against collateral is a powerful tool for tax planning and liquidity management, provided you monitor your health factor to avoid liquidation.

Final Verdict

The crypto card market in 2026 has bifurcated into two distinct paths: privacy/self-custody and yield generation. The era of simple prepaid Visa cards is ending.

For the average Bulgarian user, the Gnosis Pay Card is the logical choice. The alignment of the Gnosis Chain's EURe support with Bulgaria's Euro adoption creates a synergy that other cards cannot match. It removes the FX friction that historically plagued crypto cards in the region and bypasses the local banking sector's de-risking policies.

If your priority is purely financial return and you are comfortable with stablecoin volatility, the Ready Card offers the highest immediate upside without a massive capital commitment.

Watch the regulatory space closely in the coming months. As the MiCA transition period ends in July 2026, we expect stricter enforcement on cards that do not have full EU electronic money institution (EMI) licensing. Cards operating under "testing" regimes like Kolo may face sudden operational changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay tax every time I use my crypto card in Bulgaria?
Yes. The National Revenue Agency (NRA) treats every purchase using crypto as a disposal of a financial asset. You are liable for a flat 10% tax on any capital gain realized at the moment of the transaction. You must track the cost basis for every coffee and grocery run.

Can I still use Bulgarian Lev (BGN) to top up my card?
No. Since Bulgaria adopted the Euro on January 1, 2026, local payment rails like BISERA6 have been discontinued or migrated. You must use SEPA transfers in Euro. Ensure your card provider provides a Euro IBAN to avoid failed transfers.

Why is the Nexo card not on this list?
Despite Nexo having Bulgarian founders, the company does not offer its card or lending products to residents of Bulgaria. It restricts access to the local market due to historical regulatory friction.

Which crypto card has the best cashback for Bulgarians?
Mathematically, the Gnosis Pay Card (Tier 4) offers the highest net return for Euro spending due to the lack of FX fees and 4% reward rate. However, it requires a ~$13,000 stake. The Ready Card offers 3% with no staking, which is often better for average spenders.

Are these cards safe from Bulgarian bank blocks?
Yes, regarding the spending side. These cards operate on Visa/Mastercard networks, so local merchants will accept them. However, funding the cards can be difficult if your Bulgarian bank blocks transfers to the card issuer. Using a card that accepts on-chain deposits (like Ether.Fi or Gnosis) bypasses this problem entirely.