Spectra Systems Corporation – provider of machine readable technologies for banknotes and Fusion™ polymer substrate – has announced a licensing agreement with Oberthur Fiduciare for Kryptonome™, the latter’s patented new Level 1 security feature for polymer banknotes that was unveiled last year.

G+D Louisenthal has established itself as a sustainability driver in the industry, with comprehensive ESG measures across all sectors of the business. Sustainability in the banknote sector is a major priority, and a Whitepaper has been produced to illustrate the key elements of the sustainability strategy.

The Hempstead County Sheriff’s Department in the US state of Arkansas recently proved that truth is stranger than fiction – especially when it involves undergarments and fake cash. What started as a standard police bust quickly spiralled into an embarrassing financial facepalm, leaving the department needing a swift emergency budget bailout after accidentally treating counterfeit money like a legitimate bank deposit.

The complete overhaul of the single European currency, which represents the first comprehensive redesign of physical euro banknotes since their historic introduction back in 2002, has taken a major step forward – with the public being given the choice to vote on two different concepts. One is based on European culture, and the other on rivers and birds and European Union (EU) institutions.

As noted in the May issue of Currency News, Royal Dutch Kusters Enginerg celebrates its 115th anniversary this year.

After the success of the inaugural edition in 2024, the second Security Designers Forum (SDF) will be held 7–9 September 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye.

Delegates at this year’s HSP Latin America conference in June experienced an unconventional opening when Jan Hofmann (aka Mr Bill Vault), Sales Director at Hueck Folien, stepped onto the stage dressed as a secret agent. Launching an interactive presentation titled ‘Can you crack the code of true identity?’, Hofmann invited the audience to explore a simple question: what truly makes a banknote genuine?

The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) is issuing a new high denomination 2,000 hryvnia (Hr) banknote in September.

The Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan (CBA) has announced the issue of an upgraded 100 manat banknote, which will go into circulation on 15 July. According to the CBA, the upgraded 100 manat is more than a means of payment – it is a visual representation of Azerbaijan’s economic progress, national identity, and modern statehood.

For any nation, the integrity of its currency and official documents rests heavily on the quality and counterfeit-resiliency of the security paper upon which they are printed. In Pakistan, the critical function of security paper production is entrusted to Security Papers Limited (SPL).

BioBanknote is a Colombian-based specialist in reducing the environmental impact of banknotes through ‘natural’ means. Over the past several years, it has built up what it refers to as its ‘BioBanknote Ecosystem’, a comprehensive network of sustainable solutions for the management of waste from withdrawn banknotes, which is designed for central banks, printers and all suppliers involved in this industry.

Have you ever looked closely at a crisp, beautiful banknote and wondered about the pure wizardry that went into creating it? Banknotes are not just everyday currency; they are highly complex marvels of security engineering. They seamlessly blend high-tech substrates, intricate optical features, and microscopic engraving techniques. To showcase these jaw-dropping capabilities, the world’s top banknote security suppliers print stunning, non-circulating currency specimens beautifully known as ‘housenotes’.

Banknote production in India is carried out jointly by BRBNMPL and SPMCIL.

Gaming and cash handling technology supplier Japan Cash Machine (JCM) has completed the acquisition of medium- and small-sized banknote recycler and dispenser manufacturing and sales business of Fujitsu Frontech, which was first announced in March.

This month, there is no particular geographic focus for our periodic series of articles covering cash information in central bank annual reports, as we range from Europe (the ECB and Bank of England) across the Asian steppes (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia) to Korea, and then down to South Africa.

Q&T Hi-Tech Polymer has signed a contract with Vietnam’s National Banknote Printing Plant (NBPP) to supply polymer substrate for the 200,000 dong denomination.

Ante Žigman has begun a six-year term as Governor of the Croatian National Bank. He began his career at the central bank, but has also worked at the Ministry of Finance and at commercial lenders.

The programme has now been announced for The Coin Conference 2026, which takes place in Budapest, Hungary, from 28-30 September 2026.

Denaria Europe is a new European confederation established in Brussels to defend access to cash. Specifically, the Spanish organisation Denaria, founded in 2021, has integrated with Denaria Portugal, the French Droit au Cash, and the Swedish Kontantupporet.

The Bank of Korea (BOK) is grappling with a surplus of coins piling up in its vaults, a consequence of the country’s move towards cashless payments.