At the recent HSP™ Latin America conference in Rio, the winner of the Regional Commemorative Banknote of the Year award was Banco de Guatemala (Banguat) for the Q1 quetzal. The Governor, Alvaro González Ricci, who received the award, also spoke about the banknote in his presentation at the conference.

At a time when central banks in many European countries are distancing themselves from the business of banknote production, and/or focusing on digital alternatives to cash, the Banque de France (BdF) is going in the opposite direction – doubling down not just on printing but also substrate production through major investments. It has also restructured and bolstered the cash distribution infrastructure, taking proactive steps to ensure that French citizens have access its products!

CCL Secure – the pioneer in polymer substrates for banknotes – has launched a more sustainable version of GUARDIAN™ substrate, which builds on decades of work to drive greener outcomes with polymer banknotes. According to the company, independent evidence shows polymer banknotes lower emissions, reduce the use of raw materials, and limit waste through recycling, with more than 85% of GUARDIAN banknotes being recycled right now.

It’s an exciting time for Crane NXT. Crane NXT (‘CXT’ – NYSE) just completed the acquisition of De La Rue’s Authentication business, and combined it with its existing portfolio, the Smart Packaging assets of TruTag and brand protection specialist OpSec (acquired in 2024) to form a new company – Crane Authentication. Together with Crane Currency, these form the newly-created business unit Security & Authentication Technologies (SAT), which sits alongside Crane Payment Innovations.

In the February issue of Currency News™, we ran an interview with Wolfram Seidemann of Giesecke+Devrient on how the company is navigating the digital transformation in money. But G+D is not the only banknote solutions provider diving into the digital world. Orell Füssli, with a legacy spanning more than 500 years, is also firmly established as a leader in high security printing. And, like G+D, it is expanding its expertise to include digital security solutions as well.

The landscape of currency is undergoing a significant transformation. While cash remains a fundamental means of payment, the rise of digital transactions and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) is reshaping the future of money.

Last year, Currency News reported on the introduction of a new polymer substrate for banknotes — POLYSECURE — from Q&T Hi-Tech Polymer Co. Ltd, a Vietnamese manufacturer. Luong Ngoc Anh, the founder, Chairman, and CEO of Q&T, was interviewed at the High-Security Printing Conference Asia in Bangkok, Thailand, to gain insights into the company's journey and aspirations.

At a time when ‘less cash’ is on the minds of many central banks and organisations operating in the cash industry, the Federal Reserve is making major investments in its cash operations, infrastructure and the currency itself.

In a comprehensive modernisation of its currency system, Denmark is undertaking an ambitious series of changes that reflect its unique position as both a digital payment pioneer and a steadfast protector of cash rights.

Further to the news that De La Rue has agreed a sale of its Authentication business to Crane NXT – a move that will alleviate the financial pressures that have hung over the company in recent years – Currency News™ spoke to Ruth Euling, Executive Director and Managing Director of the remaining Currency division, to find out more about the sale and what it means for the company in terms of production, investment, and its customers.