Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

3 Feb. 2026

2 min read

Money Matters: The Adoption of Patches

DataVault tells us that the use of patches on banknotes is increasing, albeit from a low base. In 1999 two issuers had applied a patch to their currency, as of late 2025 the number was 32, just under 20%. The adoption rate is slow but steady. The uptake appears to have no regional or size bias. From Jersey through to Nigeria.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

3 Feb. 2026

2 min read

Hueck Folien Hits ‘Full-Liner’ Status with WaveFront Acquisition

Banknote security specialist Hueck Folien has acquired California-based WaveFront Technology LLC, transforming the Austrian firm into a ‘full-liner’ with end-to-end control over the security feature lifecycle. By integrating WaveFront’s 30-year expertise in micro and nanostructures, Hueck Folien says that it secures strategic independence and the ability to originate custom optical designs in-house. The value of the transaction was not disclosed.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

3 Feb. 2026

1 min read

CB+DC Conference Announces 2026 Programme

The CB+DC Conference, which focuses on digital currencies and payments, will hold two events in 2026, one in Kuala Lumpur hosted at Sasana Kijang, the Bank Negara Malaysia’s training facility, 12–14 May and one in Amsterdam 27–29 October. Registration is now open.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

3 Feb. 2026

2 min read

Morocco Kicks Off Commemorative Collection

Celebrating the 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which took place December to January in Rabat and was eventually won by Senegal, Morocco’s Bank Al-Maghrib has issued a commemorative 250 dirham silver coin and a commemorative 100 dirham banknote.

Banknotes Coins

Astrid Mitchell

3 Feb. 2026

2 min read

Bulgaria Officially Joins the Eurozone

On 1 January 2026, the euro replaced the Bulgarian lev, making Bulgaria the 21st of European Union’s 27 member states to join the eurozone, following Croatia’s entry in 2023. This means 358 million Europeans now use the euro as their currency.

News

Astrid Mitchell

3 Feb. 2026

2 min read

HSP EMEA Heads to Morocco

The High Security Printing (HSP) EMEA conference, organised by Reconnaissance (publishers of Currency News™) takes place in Rabat, Morocco from 9-11 February.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

3 Feb. 2026

4 min read

Industry Watch – a Review of the Share Price of the Quoted Companies in Currency

We invariably cover the financial results of the public (listed) companies in our sector, certainly annually and sometimes their interim results too, as a means of taking the temperature of the industry. To supplement this is Industry Watch, now published annually rather than quarterly, which specifically looks at their share prices over the period of the preceding year.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

3 Feb. 2026

3 min read

Ethiopia’s Big Bet: Birr is Coming Home

Ethiopia is apparently done waiting on foreign firms to print its cash. At the Finance Forward 2026 conference in Addis Ababa, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed made it official: the country is moving to print its own currency. For decades, the Ethiopian birr has been produced overseas, but the government is now betting that ‘monetary sovereignty’ is worth the massive upfront investment.

News

Astrid Mitchell

3 Feb. 2026

5 min read

Smarter Cash Coming to South Africa

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has announced plans to modernise how money is circulated, accessed, and managed in the country with the largest overhaul of its cash system in decades. Through its Cash Smart Strategy (CSS), part of its Payments Ecosystem Modernisation (PEM) Programme, it intends to create a cash-management company, roll out white-label ATMs, and tighten oversight of cash distribution, aiming to make the system cheaper, safer, and more accessible.

Central Banks

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

3 Feb. 2026

11 min read

The ICA – Building and Promoting the Importance of Cash Across the World

The International Currency Association has a busy year ahead, with the upcoming Global Currency Forum taking place this April, a major study on the social value of cash in the making, an expansion of the Cash Matters social media campaign and, in the most recent development, the arrival of several new members from the minting community.

Interviews

Astrid Mitchell

3 Feb. 2026

3 min read

Inspection System Delivers More Reliable Printing Plates

China Banknote Designing and Engraving Co (CBDE) is a state-owned enterprise under China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation and a high-tech enterprise approved by the People’s Bank of China. Established in 2001, its core business has been the design and engraving of the national currency. At the same time, it has engaged in the research and development of plate inspection system technology, using technological upgrades to support high security printing.

Technology

Nicola Sudan

3 Feb. 2026

4 min read

The Cedi at 60 – A Joyous Celebration

There’s something about currency conferences held in Africa! They may not always run with clockwork precision, but they are among the most memorable and vibrant events on the conference calendar, creating an ambience that is uniquely conducive to relationship building and the sharing of stories.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

2 Feb. 2026

7 min read

In Other News

Syria has issued a new currency, removing portraits of the Assad family and redenominating to remove two zeroes.

Banknotes Coins

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2026

3 min read

Currency Associations Join Forces

The International Currency Association and the International Mint Industry Association have announced that they will merge to become a combined industry association. The two organisations will join forces under the ICA umbrella, aiming to unite the global currency industry more closely and strengthen the collective voice for cash, including both banknotes and coins.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

26 Jan. 2026

2 min read

Currency Research Launches Cash Resilience Strategy Initiative (CRSI)

Currency Research, in collaboration with currency practitioners from African central banks, has launched a new international research initiative to examine global cash usage trends and the future role of physical currency in a rapidly evolving payments landscape.

Central Banks

Astrid Mitchell

23 Dec. 2025

5 min read

Reports of the Death of Cash are Greatly Exaggerated

This heading paraphrases words attributed to Mark Twain when his obituary was published while he was still alive. They seem strangely apt right now when it comes to cash.

Comment Free Free

23 Dec. 2025

2 min read

SPMCIL Reports Record Revenue

Security Printing & Minting Corporation of India Ltd (SPMCIL) recently published its 2024/25 Annual Report, showing a 15.84% increase in revenue to Rs 58.84 billion. Costs increased by 19.9% to Rs 43.96 billion.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

23 Dec. 2025

5 min read

News In Brief

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.

News

Francis Tuffy

23 Dec. 2025

7 min read

30 Years of Doing the Right Thing: KURZ Marks Three Decades of Security-Foil Production at Sulzbach-Rosenberg

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.

Companies