In October 2025, Ukrainians significantly ramped up their purchases of foreign currency, setting an eight-month record. According to official data from the National Bank, the volume of cash currency purchased amounted to 2.25 billion US dollars, while sales totaled 1.5 billion dollars. Thus, the net purchase of currency by the population exceeded 746.8 million dollars.
This is reported by Finway
For comparison, in September this figure was half as much, at 382.7 million dollars. At the same time, the volume of currency sales remained stable at 1.5 billion dollars, while purchases were 1.89 billion dollars.
Dynamics of Demand for Dollars and Euros
According to bank data, citizens purchased 1.46 billion dollars in October, exceeding the September figure of 1.3 billion dollars. Demand for euros also increased: in October, the population bought euros worth 724.6 million dollars (in dollar equivalent), while in September this figure was 521.7 million dollars.
“Currency purchases in October were increased by both the population and businesses, state corporations, and the government. In particular, the population raised their currency purchases by 95%, reaching an eight-month high.”
Financial expert Andriy Shevchishin emphasizes that this growth involved not only citizens but also corporate and state sectors. According to him, the currency purchases by the population increased by 95%, reaching the highest levels in the last eight months.
Forecasts and Influencing Factors on the Currency Market
Andriy Shevchishin predicts that in 2026, Ukraine will abolish tax benefits for electric vehicles (20% VAT and 10% customs duty), which could lead to a 30% increase in their cost. This may result in a significant increase in demand for electric cars by the end of the current year, which, in turn, will become an additional factor for currency outflow from the country. The expert believes that demand for currency from businesses and the population will remain elevated, especially against the backdrop of the desire to make the last large orders for electric vehicles under the current conditions.
At the same time, Shevchishin emphasizes that strict restrictions on the movement of funds through card accounts may partially limit this demand.
Another financial analyst, Oleksiy Kozyrev, also noted the activity of Ukrainians in purchasing currency. According to him, at the beginning of November, Ukrainians received new monthly limits for currency purchases on their card accounts, which have not yet been exhausted.
Kozyrev predicts that this week, daily currency purchases by citizens on cards and in cash will exceed sales by 35–65 million dollars. In his opinion, this may increase pressure on the exchange rate of the hryvnia in both the interbank and cash markets.