What do you get when an industry leader, Giesecke+Devrient (G+D), brings together 175 central bankers / print works and 150 cash cycle experts from commercial banks and CITs into one room? A collective of knowledge, experience and focused thought that is willing to listen, challenge and reflect on the big issues affecting the sector.

Oberthur Fiduciaire was early to the environmental protection movement, having put in place its Earth365 strategy over 15 years ago, long before sustainability catapulted to the top of the cash industry’s agenda. The Earth365 strategy has provided a roadmap for everything the company does to minimise its impact, and that of its products, on the environment and, says the company, is now embedded in its corporate DNA.

The European Central Bank (ECB) has launched a public contest for the design of future euro banknotes – the next step in the euro banknote redesign process which will culminate in a decision in 2026.

Following hard on the heels of the National Bank of Belgium’s inauguration of its new cash centre (see CN June 2025), the Swiss National Bank has announced that it too will be moving its cash logistics from the current city centre location to a modern new purpose-built greenfield site.

At a time when central banks in many European countries are distancing themselves from the business of banknote production, and/or focusing on digital alternatives to cash, the Banque de France (BdF) is going in the opposite direction – doubling down not just on printing but also substrate production through major investments. It has also restructured and bolstered the cash distribution infrastructure, taking proactive steps to ensure that French citizens have access its products!

One of the highlights of the Currency Technology Symposium was the tour of Louisenthal’s paper mill and features production centre just south of Munich, and in particular the chance to see its award- winning Banknote Fiber Extraction (BFE) system in action.

Crane Currency has added yet another iteration of its micro-optics technology to its portfolio of security features – cBREEZE™. Engineered for high volume, lower value notes, it is designed with durability and cost-efficiency in mind, bringing the same visual dynamism and security as its sibling technology RAPID® HD, but in a simplified, more accessible and lower cost form.

At the recent HSP Latin America conference in Rio de Janeiro, a new category was introduced to the Regional Banknote of the Year Awards, namely – Best Environmental Project. CCL Secure received a special commendation for its Banknote Waste Management programme. This article gives the background and detail of the initiative.

As noted in last month’s issue of Currency News, Ian Brigham of Spectra Systems Corporation presented their unique security feature’s contribution to the Casa de Moeda do Brasil’s new house note, the ‘Boa Sorte’ (or Good Luck). The note incorporates a level 3 taggant unique to Spectra’s Fusion™ polymer banknote substrate, as well as Kryptonome™, Oberthur Fiduciare’s new level 1 polymer-specific optical security feature (see CN June 2025).

The recent webinar ‘Seeing is Believing: Optical Features for High-Stakes Security’, held on 25 June, was the International Optical Technologies Association’s (IOTA) first public event under its new identity.

Several countries utilise one or more of their coin denominations as so-called circulating commemoratives. These are legal tender and, more often than that, produced in sufficient quantities that they do circulate (rather than being snapped up by collectors). The design of (generally) the reverse changes periodically, however, to mark special occasions or reinforce particular national priorities or themes.

The Central Bank of Mauritania has issued an upgraded new 50 ouguiya note celebrating the 50th anniversary of the currency, which was introduced in 1973 to replace the CFA franc (ouguiya is the Hassaniya Arabic pronunciation of ugiyyah, meaning ‘ounce’).

The Bank of Namibia has officially launched its upgraded Namibia dollar (N$) banknote series alongside a fully redesigned new Namibian coinage series, under the theme ‘Our Currency, Our Heritage, Our Pride – Meet the Next Generation of the Namibia Dollar’.

The Future of Cash Conference will unite leaders and innovators from across the global cash community, in Warsaw from 3-5 November.

The Bank of England (BOE) and the European Central Bank (ECB) have both started the process of designing new banknote series. With counterfeiting levels low, the rationale for these new series seems to lie in a wish to ‘renew’ and ‘reinvigorate’ people and the idea of the nation (UK) or community (Europe). To deliver this, playing it ‘safe’ risks failure. Can the designers rise to the challenge?

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.

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 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.

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

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.