Cambodia Unveils Updated 50,000 and 100,000 Riel Banknotes

The National Bank of Cambodia has received official approval to introduce new 50,000 and 100,000 riel banknotes, which will circulate together with their current counterparts.

Prime Minister Hun Manet signed the sub-decree authorising the new designs on September 25.

Economics professor Duch Darin explained that this update does not signal an expansion of the money supply. Rather, he said, the move responds to rising public demand for riel-denominated transactions.

"This supports the broader objective of making the riel more practical for everyday use across the economy," he noted.

Ly Sideth, the National Bank’s cash director, detailed that the updated notes retain much of their existing visual identity but incorporate modern security enhancements and aesthetic refinements.

The decision to issue new notes stems from two main considerations: first, both denominations have been in circulation for over a decade—50,000 riel notes since 2014 and 100,000 riel notes since 2013—and second, the need to strengthen anti-counterfeiting capabilities.

Key upgrades include a holographic strip featuring the Cambodian royal emblem, designed so it cannot be transferred to other note values. The notes also display both Khmer and Latin numerals, with clearer colour differentiation for the thousands grouping and larger Latin digits. Additionally, the 100,000 riel note now includes a crescent-moon motif printed with特种 ink.