Latest News

3 March 2025

4 min read

Best in Design and Innovation at EMEA Awards

This year’s Regional Banknote the Year Awards for EMEA were presented at a special ceremony during the HSP conference dinner in the traditional Safran Zunft restaurant in the heart of Basel’s charming Old Town.

Banknotes Events

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

3 min read

Currency Conference Introduces Updated Agenda Topics

The 2025 Currency Conference is returning to Bangkok, Thailand, from 26-29 May 2025. Conference organiser Currency Research expects to welcome nearly 400 delegates from 70 countries, including 70 central banks and 150 organisations in total. At the time of publication, nearly 50 central banks have already registered for the event.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

3 min read

Euro Counterfeits on the Rise Again

554,000 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation in 2024, according to the European Central Bank. This is an increase of more than 18% compared with 2023, and resulted in a ratio of 18 ppm, compared with 16 ppm the previous year.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2025

2 min read

Canadians Explore Technology to Turn E-Waste into Coins

The Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) has announced a new partnership with enim Technologies, which extracts precious metals from e-waste, to explore the possibility of incorporating these metals into the Mint’s future coin production.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2025

3 min read

In Other News

The Central Bank of Belize has unveiled the designs of its new banknote series, which will go into circulation in June.

News

John Winchcombe

29 Jan. 2025

1 min read

Cash Recirculation and Local Recycling: from Policy to Practice

A new white paper examines the cash cycle from the perspective of every stakeholder, drawing on interviews and discussions with the 24 organisations that contributed to it. It contains examples and information from around the world, from small and large countries, emerging market and advanced economies and all types of stakeholder.

Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2025

2 min read

Note and Coin News

The Bank of China and Banco Nacional Ultramarino – Macau’s two note issuing banks – have introduced new 50 and 100 pataca (MOP) banknotes. They are the third and fourth notes in the new Macau series, following the issue of new MOP 10 and 20 notes last year.

Banknotes Coins

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2025

5 min read

Cape Town Provides Backdrop to Intersection of Cash and Payments

At the end of November last year, the EMEA Cash Cycle & Payments Seminar took place in Cape Town, South Africa. Organised by Currency Research, the seminar was one of the best-attended regional cash events in recent years, with over 245 delegates from various sectors, including central banks, commercial banks, cash-in-transit companies, and technology providers.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2025

3 min read

Fashion, Food and the Best of Security Printing as Intergraf Heads to Milan

The next edition of the Intergraf Currency+Identity conference, which has been connecting technological innovators and institutional end users since 1976, takes place in Milan from 3-5 March.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2025

2 min read

From Tradition to Transformation: Komori’s Path to 2030

Komori has released its Integrated Report 2024, a detailed overview of the company’s financial and non-financial performance, along with its plans to create long-term value through innovation, sustainability, and global expansion.

Companies

John Winchcombe

29 Jan. 2025

5 min read

The Opportunity for a Revolution in Currency Management

Chris Skinner, an independent commentator on the financial markets, blogger and author, has written an interesting piece about how technology is changing the way business is delivered. He wrote it about how the digital bank model needs to change, but how might this apply to the world of cash?

Free Substrates, Features Free

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2025

2 min read

Tenders, Contracts and MOUs

Danmarks Nationalbank has signed an agreement with FNMT–RCM for the production of Danish coins over the next four years.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2025

2 min read

People in the News

Shaktikanta Das has been replaced as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India by Sanjay Malhotra, former Revenue Secretary in the Ministry of Finance.

News

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2025

5 min read

News in Brief

On 12 December De La Rue made known that it had entered talks with a consortium to sell up to 40% of its equity, which would value the company at about £245 million.

News

Duncan Reid

21 Jan. 2025

8 min read

PPM Gives False Sense of Security About Counterfeiting

Due to its relative ubiquity, ppm serves as a useful means of comparing trends both within and between countries. But as a metric it has its shortcomings. This article examines some of those shortcomings and proposes an alternative method based on the number of banknotes used for cash transactions.

Counterfeiting Free Free

Astrid Mitchell

21 Jan. 2025

6 min read

Q&T Hi-Tech Polymer: Driving Innovation with Speed, Not Imitation

Last year, Currency News reported on the introduction of a new polymer substrate for banknotes — POLYSECURE — from Q&T Hi-Tech Polymer Co. Ltd, a Vietnamese manufacturer. Luong Ngoc Anh, the founder, Chairman, and CEO of Q&T, was interviewed at the High-Security Printing Conference Asia in Bangkok, Thailand, to gain insights into the company's journey and aspirations.

Interviews

Astrid Mitchell

23 Dec. 2024

2 min read

Nominations Open for IACA and MDC Award Programmes

Closure of the nomination periods for both the MDC 2025 Coin Awards and the 2025 Excellence in Currency Awards are fast approaching, with the former to take place at MDC 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa, and the latter at the Currency Conference in Bangkok, Thailand.

Events

Antti Heinonen

23 Dec. 2024

8 min read

Are Note Issuers Ahead of Counterfeiters: Update on Counterfeiting Data

Kerre Corbin regularly addresses counterfeiting from different angles in her Counterfeit Corner in Currency News™. Against that background it is worth looking at recent developments in counterfeiting data.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

23 Dec. 2024

2 min read

Bulgaria Gets Set to become 21st Eurozone Member

Bulgaria will meet the requirements to join the eurozone by January, leaving the final decision to Bulgarian politicians, according to the Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB).

Central Banks

Astrid Mitchell

23 Dec. 2024

6 min read

Headlines of 2024: That Was the Year That Was…

Levels of euro counterfeiting remain low in 2023; Currency News™ comes of age; what goes round comes round in the minting industry....

News