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1,340 articles online

Kerre Corbin

27 Oct. 2026

3 min read

A Billion-Dollar Pivot: Why the BEP Scrapped Its New Maryland Plant

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) has officially shelved its highly anticipated plan to construct a massive, 1 million-square-foot replacement printing facility in Beltsville, Maryland. Faced with mounting budgetary constraints, a reduced project scope, and a collapse of the competitive bidding process, the Bureau is instead pivoting back to its roots. The BEP is now forging ahead with a multi-million-dollar modernisation effort to refurbish its historic, 114-year-old headquarters in the District of Columbia.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

23 Oct. 2026

2 min read

ICA Pioneers Women in Currency, Elects New Board

On 15 October 2026, the International Currency Association (ICA) held the first ICA Women in Currency gathering during Intergraf’s Currency+Identity Conference in Copenhagen.

Banknotes Coins People

Astrid Mitchell

20 Oct. 2026

1 min read

Coming Soon – V4 of House Notes: Art, Design and Security in One

Currency News™, will publish its fourth special supplement, ‘House Notes: Art, Design and Security in One’, in Spring 2027, featuring the latest house notes from across the industry. The supplement will include full details of each note, including the backstory (rationale, objectives, design concept, partners) and specific information on security and production features, along with images.

Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

20 Oct. 2026

2 min read

Oberthur’ Takes Pulsar to the Next Level

Oberthur Fiduciaire has released Pulsar™ Precision, a new iteration of its micro-optic platform for threads that was first launched in 2022.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

16 Oct. 2026

1 min read

Maldives Updates Workhorse Note

The Maldives Monetary Authority has issued a new version of the 5 rufiyaa (MVR) banknote featuring the currency’s new symbol. The release follows new versions of the MVR 10 note in April, and the MVR 20 and 100 notes in February.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

9 Oct. 2026

2 min read

Wildlife to Take Centre Stage on England’s New Banknotes

The Bank of England has announced that four species of British wildlife – the barn owl, Atlantic puffin, buff-tailed bumblebee and European hedgehog – will feature on the next series of banknotes, following a record public response to its consultation on the choice of animals, birds, fish or insects.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

1 Oct. 2026

3 min read

Making Evidence Based Decisions to Optimise Cash Ecosystems

At the Global Currency Forum in April, Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions presented its role as an independent strategic adviser to central banks, exploring how data and evidence-based decisions can optimise the entire cash ecosystem — from banknote design to post-issuance lifecycle tracking.

Banknotes Cash management Central Banks

Astrid Mitchell

1 Oct. 2026

5 min read

News in Brief

The Bank of South Sudan and De La Rue have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) whereby the latter will provide extensive support across key areas of the currency lifecycle, including currency planning and forecasting, quality management, and currency circulation. It also paves the way for building a sustainable currency management capacity at the Bank of South Sudan, supporting modernisation of its currency management framework.

News

Astrid Mitchell

1 Oct. 2026

2 min read

Gold Bars, Millions of Dollars and Cedis: Ghana's Counterfeit Currency Production Galore

Ghana's National Security Council Secretariat has dismantled four major counterfeit currency printing hubs and arrested 16 suspects, seizing hundreds of thousands in fake banknotes alongside unprocessed coupons worth millions more.

Banknotes Counterfeiting

Astrid Mitchell

1 Oct. 2026

10 min read

Building on a Legacy for the New Generation of Professionals in Cash & Payments

Currency News™ speaks to Jens Seidl, CEO of Currency Research, about the organisation's 30-year legacy, its recent management buyout, and the plans he and co-owner Shaun Ferrari have to modernise and grow the business for the next generation of cash and payments professionals.

Interviews

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Astrid Mitchell

1 Oct. 2026

4 min read

'Beyond the Cost Debate': A Multidimensional Approach to Quantify the Value of Cash for Society

A groundbreaking IMFS working paper by academics and industry experts develops a model to quantify cash's value across five societal dimensions — finding that in a German pilot, the value of cash is almost three times higher than its estimated cost.

Cash management Future of cash Payments Free

Astrid Mitchell

1 Oct. 2026

9 min read

Cash Around the World: Declining Use, Enduring Importance

A review of recent payment studies across advanced economies reveals a consistent story: cash is no longer the default payment method but remains far from obsolete, with the central challenge being a growing tension between reduced everyday use and the need to maintain reliable access and infrastructure for those who still depend on it.

Cash Handling Cash management Features

Astrid Mitchell

1 Oct. 2026

2 min read

DataVault Unlocked: From Production to Destruction: Inside DataVault's Complete Supplier Directory

DataVault has launched a free, colour-coded Currency & Technology Supplier Directory giving central banks, printers, and tech providers a single hub to find specialised partners across the full cash lifecycle — with deeper cross-referenced intelligence available via subscription.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

1 Oct. 2026

1 min read

New Platform for Currency News Online

Currency News™ Online has migrated to a new platform, bringing individual logins, a cleaner interface, quick links to key tools, and a new AI research assistant called Verity.

AI News

Astrid Mitchell

1 Oct. 2026

5 min read

Designing Trust and Innovation for Tomorrow's Banknotes

The 2026 Security Designers Forum, held in Istanbul from 7–9 September, brought together 190 delegates from 37 countries to explore the people, ideas and decisions shaping the future of secure document design.

Banknotes Events Sustainability

1 Oct. 2026

3 min read

SICPA Demonstrates Different Roots – Common Ground

SICPA has produced a stunning new house note titled 'Different Roots. Common Ground', celebrating security inks and the universal role of cash, presented at the Security Designers Forum in Istanbul and the HSP Latin America conference in Guatemala.

Banknotes Companies Design

Astrid Mitchell

30 Sept. 2026

7 min read

In Other News

The United States Mint has released a new $1 commemorative coin featuring President Donald Trump, making him the first sitting US president to appear on a coin while in office since Calvin Coolidge appeared on a commemorative half-dollar in 1926.

News

Astrid Mitchell

30 Sept. 2026

8 min read

Central Banks and Cash Round-Up

This month, we look at the cash and payments information provided in the annual reports of five central banks – those of Bulgaria, Japan, Nigeria, North Macedonia, and the Philippines.

Central Banks

Astrid Mitchell

25 Sept. 2026

2 min read

De La Rue Hosts Inaugural Currency Leaders’ Summit in Malta

This month, the De La Rue Currency Leaders’ Summit 2026 brought together more than 60 senior leaders from over 30 central banks and issuing authorities around the world for a week of discussion, collaboration and innovation in its newly-opened Malta print supersite.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

18 Sept. 2026

2 min read

Companies Bid for India’s Polymer Banknote Trial

Companies reported to have submitted bids to supply sheets with advanced security features for India’s polymer banknote trial include CCL Secure (Australia), Cosmo First in partnership with De La Rue, and Q&T Hi-Tech Polymer from Vietnam (partnering with India-based Pigment Allied)Pigments & Allieds). Spectra Systems, in partnership with India-based Uflex, also participated in the bid for its Fusion™ halal- and vegan-certified polymer.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

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