Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

1 July 2026

6 min read

Design and Innovation in Latin America

HSP Latin America was last held in Guatemala City in 2017, and its return – 10 years on – did not disappoint. In fact, many of the delegates commented that it was the best conference yet of all the 13 HSP Latin America conferences to date – and, given that the preceding year it was held in Rio de Janeiro which set an exceptionally high bar, this was no mean feat!

Events

Astrid Mitchell

1 July 2026

6 min read

Resilience at the Heart of Banknote 2026

The Banknote Conference, held in Washington DC in May, involved 432 delegates from 164 organisations across 68 countries, including representatives from 88 central banks and printworks. Organised by Currency Research and bringing together central bankers, banknote designers, security experts, printers, substrate manufacturers and cash cycle specialists, the event provided a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities facing the global cash community.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

1 July 2026

5 min read

Note and Coin News

The Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) has launched a Golden Jubilee commemorative $50 banknote celebrating its 50th anniversary. The new banknote was designed by De La Rue and printed on SAFEGUARD® polymer.

Banknotes Coins

Antti Heinonen

29 June 2026

9 min read

Development of Banknotes in Circulation Since 1998, and By Regions

Currency News™ has published annual updates on the global demand for banknotes since 2017, but these updates have focused mainly on most recent trends. By contrast, this article will address the development of global note demand during a period covering close to three decades. The regular annual update will be published later this year, when the volume figures for 2025 are available.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

25 June 2026

2 min read

Q&T and KURZ Partner to Embed KINEGRAM® in PolySecure®

Q&T Hi-Tech Polymer and KURZ have signed a Project Development Cooperation Agreement to integrate KINEGRAM® optical security features into Q&T’s PolySecure® polymer banknote substrate. The partnership will focus on embedding KURZ’s KINEGRAM® technology directly within the layers of Q&T’s polymer substrate structure, creating a higher level of security integration than conventional surface-applied features.

Companies Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2026

2 min read

India Reopens Polymer Banknote Debate After More Than a Decade

According to sources, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revived discussions about introducing polymer banknotes and is considering a pilot project for public circulation. The proposal was reportedly discussed at a recently held RBI board meeting. However, the RBI has not publicly announced such a programme, and no reference to polymer banknotes appears in its Annual Report for FY2025-26, released on 29 May 2026, covering the year ending 31 March 2026.

Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2026

4 min read

AI – Add On or Core Technology?

This article is not written with the assistance or input of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Perhaps you can tell!

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2026

3 min read

BEP’s Long Term Transformation – New Investment, but New Facility on Hold

In one of the keynote speeches at the Banknote Conference in Washington DC, which has recently concluded, the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) presented its long-term transformation and modernisation strategy. This is in the context of a new series of banknotes, the first of which will be issue later the year, the postponement of a proposed new production site to replace that in the centre of the capital, and investments that have already seen a 33% reduction in some production costs.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2026

1 min read

Banco de Guatemala Celebrates

Banco de Guatemala has issued a new commemorative 100 quetzales banknote to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the central bank’s foundation.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2026

4 min read

In Other News

Qatar Central Bank has issued new 5 and 10 riyal banknotes of the 5th Series with a modified design that includes Western numerals on the bottom left corner of the front of the notes, instead of the Arabic number.

News

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2026

4 min read

IACA Excellence in Currency Awards 2026 – the Winners Are…

This year there were five categories in the International Association of Currency Affairs (IACA) Excellence in Currency Awards. The winners of two were announced and presented at the Global Currency Forum at the end of April, and the remaining three at the Banknote Conference in Washington, DC in May.

Awards

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2026

5 min read

The Reality of Cash Discussed at the Global Currency Forum

Nearly 440 people gathered at a resort hotel in Antalya, Türkiye, at the end of April for the Global Currency Forum (GCF), organised by the International Currency Association (ICA).

Events

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2026

3 min read

DataVault Unlocked: QR Codes

Did you know that some banknotes have QR codes? A QR (quick-response) code is a two-dimensional (2D) matrix barcode consisting of black and white squares that stores encoded data, such as website URLs, text or contact information. When a user scans the QR code, which can be done using a smartphone, they gain access to information about the currency, the issuing institution, or the commemorative events celebrated in the design.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2026

4 min read

AI-Empowered Smart Banknote Printing at CBPM

China Banknote Printing & Minting Corporation’s (CBPM) development approach to banknote production is being driven by intelligent transformation and digital empowerment, both of which are being harnessed to strengthen technical innovation and propel growth.

Technology

Gustavo Ascenzo

1 June 2026

4 min read

A Structural Solution to the Counterfeiting Cycle

Make no mistake; modern-day counterfeiting is as much a threat to banknote security as it’s ever been. The ubiquity and availability of digital technology and now the rise of AI in our daily lives make it easier than ever for counterfeiters ply their trade.

Counterfeiting

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2026

2 min read

IN Groupe’s New Vibes

IN Groupe has announced Vibes Shift™, developed by its subsidiary SURYS, which specialises in optical and digital security solutions. Vibes Shift is an extension of Vibes, which launched in 2023, offering colour shift alongside movement.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2026

2 min read

De La Rue Advances Innovation with OPTILIGHT™

OPTILIGHT™ is De La Rue’s next-generation optical security platform for banknotes. It combines nano-science, advanced optical engineering, and proprietary algorithms to deliver intuitive visual effects for public authentication.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2026

2 min read

nanoDOVID®: Shaping Light into Security

IQ Structures (IQS) has launched nanoDOVID®, describing it as a breakthrough in optical security technology that offers a fundamentally new approach to protecting banknotes and identity documents.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2026

2 min read

Anima Colour — Inspired by Gemstones

Oberthur Fiduciaire unveiled two major additions to its Anima™ micro-optics platform – Anima™ Sign and Anima™ Colour – at the recent Global Currency Forum. Both innovations highlighted advances in machine readability and colour versatility, two increasingly important elements in next-generation banknote security, in addition to the integration of all the effects already available in Anima™.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2026

3 min read

A Case Study in Making AI Work for You

At the Global Currency Forum (GCF), Jura presented their work on creating a next generation banknote design software extended with some AI functions. The presentation included a detailed review of the performance of different AI models set the task of producing an engraved portrait.

Technology