Over the last one to two years, the currency industry has witnessed a noticeable increase in the launch of security features, particularly in optical security. Technologies that once evolved gradually over long document redesign cycles are now being refreshed at a much faster pace. This raises an important question: has a new race in optical innovation begun?
Recent launches suggest the answer may well be yes. Authentix introduced QUANTUM Stripe™, De La Rue launched OPTILIGHT™, IN Groupe expanded Vibes™ with Vibes Shift™, while Giesecke+Devrient introduced TwinColors® Patch (extension of RollingStar® Patch), and Oberthur expanded its Anima™ platform. Crane Currency has also strengthened its microoptics portfolio through cBREEZE™, designed to work alongside higher-security features such as MOTION SURFACE® and RAPID® Vision.
The other is KURZ, which kept building its KINEGRAM range - including REVIEW®, VOLUME®, DYNAMIC®, and KINEGRAM COLORS® - the most attractive addition to the KINEGRAM portfolio. KURZ recently showcased three new sample banknotes featuring registered stripes with KINEGRAM COLORS® and KINEGRAM® COSMIC, alongside effects including KINEGRAM® VIVID, surface relief, colourful movement, and black mirror.
These developments show how aggressively suppliers are pushing the boundaries of optical security technology. More importantly, they reveal a major shift in how overt security is evolving.
The race is no longer centred solely on individual security features. Companies are increasingly building broader optical technology ecosystems capable of delivering multiple visual behaviours and evolving over time.
Optical security is becoming dynamic rather than static, platform-based rather than feature-based, and increasingly experiential rather than purely technical.
One of the clearest trends is the growing use of movement itself as a security mechanism. Animation, directional motion, depth transitions and angle-dependent visibility are becoming central to public authentication.
As are advances in counterfeiting technologies. High-resolution imaging, AI-assisted graphic generation, computational photography and increasingly sophisticated digital reproduction tools mean static overt effects can now be simulated more easily than before.
Dynamic optical systems create far greater challenges for counterfeiters. Multilayer movement, animated transitions and interactive optical behaviours are significantly more difficult to reproduce consistently using conventional techniques.
At the same time, these effects improve public authentication. People naturally recognise movement and visual change faster than static graphics. Features that animate, flip, orbit or sharpen under light create stronger engagement and enable quicker verification.
Another important battleground is emerging behind the scenes: intellectual property. Patent activity across nanooptics, micro-lens arrays, micromirror systems, animation effects and machinereadable authentication technologies is increasing rapidly. According to the IOTA patent newsletter, more than 6,000 patents have been filed by the industry in the areas of holography, optical security, imaging, and display. Security technologies account for a major share of this.
Companies are no longer protecting only individual security features. They are securing broader technology architectures, manufacturing methods and motion-generation systems. As optical innovation becomes increasingly platform-driven, patent portfolios may play a growing role in determining long-term market leadership.
This is no longer simply a race to create brighter holograms or stronger colour shifts. It is a race to build adaptable optical platforms that can evolve continuously alongside emerging counterfeiting threats.
The objective is clear: stay one step ahead of the counterfeiters.
