Banknotes
One-fifth of EMDE central banks actively discourage cash use
Digital payments are reducing cash demand, especially in advanced economies
Germany sees surge in €100 fakes amid overall counterfeit decline
Deutsche Bundesbank says overall levels of forged money remain low
Book notes: Money: the inside story, by Rupal Patel and Jack Leslie
BoE’s latest explainer provides an entertaining and accessible guide to finance
ECB unveils shortlist of new euro banknote designs
Bank invites public to share their views, offers vertical designs for first time
Everything you always wanted to know about money (but were afraid to ask)
Rupal Patel and Jack Leslie, authors of ‘Money: the inside story’, speak about how central banks can improve their comms – and credibility – by tackling popular misconceptions about how finance works
MAS heralds progress on cutting carbon emissions
Central bank reports reductions in climate impact across its operations and investment portfolio
Sudan to withdraw low-value notes from circulation
Smaller denominations have lost purchasing power amid inflation and currency depreciation
Central Bank of Syria opens new branches
Bank also says it will begin measures to end circulation of Turkish currency
Monetary split deepens in Sudan as new banknotes circulate
Expert says rebel forces may be printing their own version of national currency
Digital euro passes European Parliament’s first hurdle
Economic and monetary committee’s rapporteur says CBDC will ‘never replace’ cash
Novel AI could help with banknote quality control – paper
Tool could help prevent defective currency from entering circulation, Bank of Italy researchers find
Banknotes: April to June 2026
A round-up of news and salient issues that have affected central bankers in the past three months
BoE asks public to vote for their favourite animals
Bank opens consultation on which creatures should feature on its next set of notes
Orbán ordered Ukrainian gold and cash seizure – report
Investigation suggests Hungary’s ex-premier sought to use bank assets as bargaining chip for oil
Syria extends deadline for exchanging old currency
Replacement rate stands at 63%, says governor
Serbian central bank reprimands artist for ‘defacing’ banknotes
Andrej Josifovski printed anti-government symbols on dinars ahead of student protests
High-value notes: default money for criminals?
Some experts say the notes are a boon for felons, and that central banks should stop issuing them
BoJ’s Himino: Stablecoins strengthen dollar privilege
Deputy governor calls for ‘holistic’ system involving stablecoins, CBDCs, tokenisation and cash
Bulgarian lessons from entering the eurozone
Sofia’s uneasy membership in the currency bloc, five months in
The Fed’s six-trillion-dollar balance sheet question
Kevin Warsh’s drive to shrink the US central bank’s ledger is unlikely to be a simple task
Book notes: Everybody loves our dollars, by Oliver Bullough
The author poses serious questions about whether central banks’ activities are helping kleptocrats