News | Currency News™

Astrid Mitchell

13 May 2026

2 min read

De La Rue Ignites Innovation with OPTILIGHT™

At the recent Global Currency Forum in Antalya, Türkiye, De La Rue introduced OPTILIGHT™, a next-generation optical security platform for banknotes. OPTILIGHT™ combines nano-science, advanced optical engineering, and proprietary algorithms to deliver intuitive visual effects for public authentication.

Banknotes Features

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2026

4 min read

Papua New Guinea Marks 35-Year Polymer Milestone

35 years ago, in 1991, Papua New Guinea (PNG) introduced its first polymer banknote – the 2 kina. This made it the first country after Australia to adopt the then new technology, and helped begin a period of change in currency across the Pacific region.

Features

Antti Heinonen

1 April 2026

9 min read

Developments in the Number of Banknotes in Circulation and Currency Denomination Structures

This article provides further light on a topic addressed in Currency News™ last May, namely the development of the number of banknotes in circulation. The estimate then was like a first trial and resulted globally in 921 billion banknotes. It was based on data available at the time consisting mostly of end-2023 or 2024 figures.

Features Free Free

Dr Wolfram Seidemann

1 April 2026

4 min read

Shaping the Future of Public Money

Technological innovation is advancing at a pace that is transforming how societies pay, transact, and interact. Changes that once unfolded over decades now occur within years, fundamentally redefining the role and nature of money. As reflected in our new white paper ‘Currency Fast Forward – Future Developments of the Currency Cycle’, one insight stands above all: the future of money will not be determined by a choice between physical and digital forms, but by their ability to coexist and reinforce one another.

Features

Astrid Mitchell

3 Feb. 2026

9 min read

What Will 2026 Hold for Cash

As we reported in the final issue of 2025, the currency industry appears to be booming. We posited on various reasons why – geopolitical uncertainty, rebuilding of strategic stocks, economic growth in the Global South in particular, shorter design cycles with more frequent upgrades and new issues, and the occasional large lumpiness of overspill orders.

Features

Astrid Mitchell

23 Dec. 2025

13 min read

2025 Summarised: That Was the Year That Was…

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

Features

Aftab Baloch

28 Nov. 2025

4 min read

An Analysis of the Cash Cycle in Pakistan

Cash processing plays a crucial role in Pakistan’s financial system, ensuring liquidity, security, and public confidence in an economy where physical currency remains widely used. Despite the growing adoption of digital financial services and a determined push by the government to reduce dependency on cash, it continues to dominate daily transactions, particularly in the informal sector (which generates over 40% of GDP).

Features

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2025

3 min read

Q&T’s POLYSECURE® SHIELD Embeds OVDs into Polymer

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.

Features

2 July 2025

2 min read

Watermarks for Polymer in New Boa Sorte House Note

The presentation at HSP Latin America by Ian Brigham of Spectra Systems covered the new house note that has been produced by Casa da Moeda do Brasil on its Fusion™ polymer substrate. The ‘Boa Sorte’ note incorporates a level 3 taggant unique to Fusion as well as, for the first time, a new level 1 optical security feature from Oberthur - Kryptonome™.

Features

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2025

3 min read

Patches are Making a Splash

Banknote security is an undisputable must. But what are the developing trends in banknote security, and how are industry suppliers meeting these challenges?

Features

Latest News

De La Rue Ignites Innovation with OPTILIGHT™

Papua New Guinea Marks 35-Year Polymer Milestone

Developments in the Number of Banknotes in Circulation and Currency Denomination Structures

Shaping the Future of Public Money

What Will 2026 Hold for Cash

2025 Summarised: That Was the Year That Was…

An Analysis of the Cash Cycle in Pakistan

Q&T’s POLYSECURE® SHIELD Embeds OVDs into Polymer

Watermarks for Polymer in New Boa Sorte House Note

Patches are Making a Splash

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