Giesecke+Devrient is continuing its business transformation strategy with the acquisition of critical German payment infrastructure in the form of the Payments & Banking Services business of Bank-Verlag. A subsidiary of the Association of German Banks, the business processes one in four card and internet-based payment transactions in Germany.

When LEONHARD KURZ GmbH & Co KG (KURZ) opened its optical film facility in Sulzbach-Rosenberg, few could have predicted how profoundly it would shape the global security feature industry. To this day, the site remains one of the company’s strategic production centres — and an example of industrial renewal, where a region built on coal and steel turned to optics and precision engineering.

The International Currency Association has (ICA) has shared preliminary details of the third edition of the Global Currency forum, which takes place 27-30 April in Antalya, Turkey.

The first issue of 2025 explored opportunities for a digital transformation in currency management through the use of data and analytics.

The Future of Cash Conference 2025 took place from 3–5 November in Warsaw, an especially symbolic location given Poland’s rapid economic growth since joining the EU in 2004 and its central role in supporting Ukraine following Russia’s 2022 invasion.

High Security Printing™ Asia (HSP Asia), held in Kuala Lumpur from 1-3 December 2025, delivered the strongest performance in the event’s history. The conference attracted 337 delegates from 145 organisations across 51 countries, including 34 governments and central banks.

At the recent HSP Asia conference, Tajikistan’s new 100 somoni note celebrating the 25th anniversary of the national currency won the award for Best New Commemorative Banknote.

As noted in the November issue of Currency News™, the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) is issuing a new family of Fijian dollar banknotes, which was officially launched at a special ceremony in Suva, the capital of the Pacific Island nation, on 2 December.

The Regional Banknote of the Year Awards form part of the industry’s High Security Printing (HSP) Asia conference. This year’s awards were presented at a special ceremony during the conference dinner on 2 December.

Below are some of the central banks, printworks, and substrate makers that have either recently concluded major investments in expansion or new facilities, are in the process, or planning to do so.

The Royal Australian Mint (RAM), which celebrated its 60th anniversary this year, sent over 131 million circulating coins with a face value of A$75.37 million into the Australian economy during FY 2024/25, nearly three times the 47.7 million coins issued the previous year.

Following a Letter of Intent signed in July, Oberthur Cash Protection and Feerica have completed their strategic merger, forming Oberthur Feerica. This follows the acquisition of Feerica from its owner, the holding company Zelosodisseia, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Central Bank of Turkmenistan has unveiled a new series of banknotes, designed and printed by De La Rue on SAFEGUARD® polymer, to coincide with 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s recognition as a permanently neutral state.

After 232 years of continuous production, the US penny (or one cent coin) has finally ceased to roll off the presses for circulation. The US Mint hosted a ceremonial strike event at its Philadelphia facility in mid-November, with United States Treasurer Brandon Beach striking the final circulating penny coin.

Although the 2026 Banknote Conference (11-14 May 2026) is still nearly six months out, Currency Research has announced the first tranche of speakers who’ll be appearing in Washington DC.

Giesecke+Devrient is continuing to invest in its cash processing solutions and, at its Currency Technology Symposium this summer, presented the latest evolution of the well-known high-speed system – the BPS® Mevo® series – and the complementary solution for smaller cash centres – the all-new BPS® C7.

The Coin Conference 2026 will take centre stage next year as a key part of the industry’s event calendar. The event, organised by the publishers of Currency News, brings together experts to tackle critical challenges facing coin production and circulation in the context of a rapidly-evolving payments eco-system.

Hueck Folien – specialists in applied security features and threads for banknotes – has successfully commissioned a new high-vacuum vapour deposition facility at its headquarters in Baumgartenberg, Austria. The €8.6 million investment, announced in September 2024, includes both a new metallisation system and associated infrastructure upgrades, and marks a major advance in the company’s production of high-performance coatings for the security sector.

Life used to be so simple. You could pay with cash, with a cheque or with a wire transfer. Today the number of payment options is big, and getting bigger, as ‘bank money’ fragments into a myriad of different products and payment rails. In addition, add in crypto currency, stablecoins and CBDCs. Where will it all end?

The Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) is preparing to launch a completely new series of Fijian dollar (FJD, $) banknotes in a major refresh that reflects both technical advances and an updated national vision. The formal unveiling will take place on 2 December in the capital, Suva, by the President of Fiji, HE Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, and the new notes are scheduled to enter circulation from 2 January 2026.