Guides: stablecoins, crypto and money across borders
Plain answers from the team that has run a Bulgarian crypto exchange since 2017.
What is a stablecoin? A practical guide to USDC, EURC and MiCA
A stablecoin is a crypto-asset built to hold a steady value against a currency, usually the US dollar or the euro. Fiat-backed stablecoins such as USDC and EURC are issued against cash and short-term government debt, and holders can redeem them 1:1 with the issuer. In the EU, a stablecoin tied to one currency is an e-money token under MiCA and needs an authorised issuer.
USDC vs USDT: what is the difference for users in the EU?
USDC and USDT are both dollar stablecoins, but they are issued by different companies under different rules. Circle issues USDC, and its EU entity is listed by ESMA as an authorised e-money token issuer. Tether issues USDT and does not appear in that register. Since 2025, major EU platforms such as Bitstamp, Kraken and OKX have stopped USDT trading for EEA users, while USDC remains available.
Sending money abroad with stablecoins: a practical guide for 2026
To send money abroad with stablecoins, you convert euro or dollars into USDC or EURC, send the tokens on a blockchain network to the recipient's wallet address, and the recipient keeps them or converts them to local money. It can settle at any hour for a small network fee. Compare the full cost with a SWIFT wire: conversion fees on both ends, network fees and exchange rates.
Self-custody wallets: what they are and how they compare with an exchange
A self-custody wallet is a wallet where you, not a company, control the keys that move your crypto. On an exchange, the platform holds the assets and you hold a claim on its books. Self-custody removes the risk of a platform failing or freezing your account, but you take responsibility for access, backups and every transfer. Embedded wallets with email login split and protect keys so that signing requires your own authentication.
MiCA in Bulgaria: the law, the regulators and who is licensed
MiCA applies in Bulgaria through the Markets in Crypto-Assets Act, in force since 8 July 2025. The Financial Supervision Commission (FSC) licenses crypto-asset service providers and the Bulgarian National Bank supervises e-money token issuers. The transition for older providers ended on 1 July 2026, so only providers licensed in Bulgaria or passported from another EU state may now offer crypto services here.
How to buy USDC in Bulgaria in 2026
In 2026 you can buy USDC in Bulgaria through a platform licensed by the FSC, such as Altcoins.bg or a DigitalAssist crypto ATM, through an EU exchange authorised under MiCA and passported to Bulgaria, such as Bitstamp, Kraken or Bybit EU, or through a EUR or USD account that converts incoming money to USDC. Check the licence, the total cost, whose name the account is in and who holds the keys.
How to get paid in US dollars from abroad when you live in Bulgaria
You have three main options: a SWIFT transfer to a Bulgarian bank, a fintech account that gives you payment details, or a USD account in your own name that converts incoming dollars to the stablecoin USDC. Compare the total cost (sender, intermediary and receiving fees plus any currency markup), whether the account is in your name, what the payer can send, and how you will declare the income.
Crypto tax in Bulgaria in 2026: a guide for individuals
Individuals in Bulgaria pay 10% income tax on the net result of selling or exchanging crypto-assets. You add up the gains and losses of every deal in the year, deduct 10% statutory expenses and apply the 10% rate, so the effective rate on the net gain is 9%. There is no advance tax: you declare in Annex 5 of the annual return and pay by 30 April of the next year.