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. In just a few years, Q&T has developed an innovative process for producing this substrate, constructed a new factory, secured contracts for three of Vietnam’s six denominations, and is now aiming for a broader global market. We interviewed Luong Ngoc Anh, the founder, Chairman, and CEO of Q&T, at the High-Security Printing Conference™️ Asia in Bangkok, Thailand, to gain insights into the company's journey and aspirations.

In his article in CN December 2024 Antti Heinonen reported that the majority of central banks which publish data on counterfeiting use parts per million (ppm) as a metric. Due to its relative ubiquity (and the absence of anything better), ppm serves as a useful means of comparing trends both within and between countries. But as a metric it has its shortcomings. This article examines some of those shortcomings and proposes an alternative method based on the number of banknotes used for cash transactions.

Closure of the nomination periods for both the MDC 2025 Coin Awards and the 2025 Excellence in Currency Awards are fast approaching, with the former to take place at MDC 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa, and the latter at the Currency Conference in Bangkok, Thailand.

Kerre Corbin regularly addresses counterfeiting from different angles in her Counterfeit Corner in Currency News™. Against that background it is worth looking at recent developments in counterfeiting data.

There is a perception that in 2022 and 2023 the currency ‘industry’ was a little flat, even lacking self-confidence, in the face of the fall out from the pandemic and the huge surge in digital payments as societies rapidly went online. The evidence of 2024 tells a rather different story.

The Central Bank of Kenya derives its mandate from Article 231 of Kenya’s Constitution and Section 22 of the CBK Act. Among these responsibilities, CBK must ensure and facilitate adequate and secure money supply in the economy. In fulfilling this mandate, the CBK took steps to guarantee the supply of banknotes by procuring an updated version from Giesecke+DevrientCurrency Technology.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has announced the issue of the First Philippine Polymer (FPP) banknote series, over two years after the release of the 1,000 piso polymer as a trial in April 2022.

The United States Mint has unveiled the designs for the fourth and final year of the American Women Quarters Program. Since the beginning of the program in 2022, the Mint has issued five quarters annually, and the final five will be issued in 2025.

The Regional Banknote and ID Document of the Year Awards form part of the industry’s High Security Printing (HSP) Asia conference, the latest of which recently concluded in Bangkok, Thailand.

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.

The 20th edition of the High Security Printing™ Asia conference in Bangkok, Thailand (2-4 December 2024), marked an important milestone in advancing the region’s security printing industry.

In this month’s round-up covering cash information in central bank annual reports, we look at Russia, in the throes of its ‘special military operation’, and its neighbour Ukraine, the target of that operation.

Bulgaria will meet the requirements to join the eurozone by January, leaving the final decision to Bulgarian politicians, according to the Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB).

Levels of euro counterfeiting remain low in 2023; Currency News™ comes of age; what goes round comes round in the minting industry....

Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) has introduced the latest generation of its banknote processing systems – the BSP® C evo, which is an evolution of the BPS C2 and C2 mid-size sorters for commercial cash handlers.

The fourth edition of the Directory of Circulating Coins has now been published – the first since 2019.

Covestro has formally introduced its new polymer substrate for banknotes and secure documents, which it has branded CERTEVO®, stating that it marks a ‘significant advancement in document security, sustainability, and printing technology, combining performance and environmental responsibility.’

De La Rue has announced its half-year results for the six months ending September 2024. The company reported lower revenues but continued growth in its order book, and strategic development with the proposed sale of its Authentication business to Crane NXT.

The Korea Minting, Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corporation (KOMSCO) held a ‘Currency By-Product Utilisation Seminar’ earlier this month to launch its new venture to reuse currency by-products slated for disposal – both end-of-life banknotes and waste from production. Around 500 tonnes are generated annually, of which 90% is incinerated.

The International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) has a new name – the International Optical Technologies Association (IOTA). The change is part of the industry body’s strategic plan to broaden its scope to better serve evolving markets and new technology frontiers, particularly in optical security.