Cash is not just a store of value or a transaction, it’s a means of mutual human connection – in other words, a handshake. So said Mark Gould, Chief Payments Executive at Federal Reserve Financial Services, in his keynote address at the Currency Conference in Bangkok in May.

The Bank Indonesia (BI) office in Bali has come up with a novel – and appropriate – way to recycle end of life banknotes – by turning them into medals that were given to participants in the QRIS Summer Run Bali fun run.

As Currency News™ went to press, we learnt that the sale of De La Rue PLC to Atlas Holdings for £263 million – announced in April – has now completed. De La Rue will delist from the London Stock Exchange and re-register as a Private Limited Company.

The presentation at HSP Latin America by Ian Brigham of Spectra Systems covered the new house note that has been produced by Casa da Moeda do Brasil on its Fusion™ polymer substrate. The ‘Boa Sorte’ note incorporates a level 3 taggant unique to Fusion as well as, for the first time, a new level 1 optical security feature from Oberthur - Kryptonome™.

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.

For June, our summary of newly-published central bank annual and other reports takes a look at Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, and India.

In April last year, Glory – providers of cash management and automation systems – launched its 2026 Medium Term Management Plan, a three year business transformation project designed to help drive customers’ own digital transformation with best-in-class products and software platforms.

Hueck Folien and IQ Structures, two leaders in banknote security features, have announced a strengthened partnership that builds on the success of their Nanovista™ venture, following what they describe as an overwhelmingly positive market response to their joint efforts.

The Bank of England has announced a public consultation into the redesign of its banknotes – the first in more than 50 years.

The National Bank of Belgium (NBB) has officially inaugurated its new cash centre – an environment-friendly facility from where all cash logistics for Belgium will be coordinated.

The Regional Banknote and ID Document of the Year Awards form part of the industry’s High Security Printing (HSP) Latin America conference. The awards at this year’s event were presented at a special ceremony during the conference dinner on top of the iconic Sugarloaf Mountain.

The Bank of Mauritius has issued a new Rs 100 banknote – the penultimate denomination in the series to switch to polymer.

The Cash Sustainability Forum has to date been held as a standalone event in Europe but, this year, it went regional for a one day workshop at HSP Latin America, held in conjunction with the International Currency Association.

This year’s High Security Printing (HSP) Latin America, the 12th edition of the conference, returned to Rio de Janeiro, where it all began with the inaugural event back in 2012.

Hanoi-based Q&T Hi-Tech Polymer is the newest entrant to the market for polymer substrate market, and is already supplying its POLYSECURE® product for Vietnam’s banknotes. At the recent Currency Conference in Bangkok, the company unveiled its latest innovation – POLYSECURE® SHIELD.

Olaf Sleijpen has succeeded Klaas Knot as President of De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB).

As of early 2025, the Economic Policy Uncertainty Index has reached its highest levels this century, signalling a period of significant macroeconomic volatility. Similarly, the World Uncertainty Index (WUI) has nearly tripled, increasing from approximately 16,043 in Q1 2024 to around 48,146 in Q1 2025. This significant surge in uncertainty is global, affecting all regions.

In 2011, the International Association of Currency Affairs (IACA) held the inaugural Currency Hall of Fame (CHF) induction ceremony, providing a permanent public record and memorial of the outstanding achievements of very select individuals who have made a significant impact in the currency industry.

As Currency News™ went to press, we learnt that the sale of De La Rue PLC to Atlas Holdings for £263 million – announced in April – has now completed. De La Rue will delist from the London Stock Exchange on 3 July and, shortly thereafter, re-register as a Private Limited Company.

The National Bank of Kazakhstan has issued a commemorative 1,000 tenge note celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory and the end of World War II in Europe.