Earlier this month, Mark Spencer, SVP of Product & Design at Authentix, presented his perspective on the next evolution of QUANTUM stripe™ at the BIN Banknote Technology webinar series. The webinar explored how animated security is advancing banknote protection. This new capability enables smooth, dynamic motion within a secure, nanoscale feature, introducing effects such as depth, pulsing, rotation, image switching, and controlled appearance and disappearance. National symbols can be animated with precision, creating clear, intuitive cues for authentication. By combining nano-optic precision with animation, QUANTUM stripe expands the visual language of banknote security – allowing central banks to integrate movement, meaning, and trust directly into overt features. Watch the webinar now.
By Type: News
Report On Petroleum Tax Expenditure Reform as Implemented by Democratic Republic of the Congo
|The Ministry of Finance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo recently released a statement detailing the success of their petroleum tax expenditure reform. Petroleum-related tax expenditures had reached unsustainable levels, totaling USD 1.6 billion in 2022 and USD 1.1 billion in 2023. To address this, the Government, through the Ministries of National Economy, Finance, and Hydrocarbons, launched a major reform in 2024 to rationalize petroleum tax expenditures with molecular fuel markers provided by Authentix.
With the reform fully implemented in July 2025 and Authentix-provided fuel marking program in place, petroleum revenues increased by more than 1,700%. Average monthly fuel revenues collected by the General Directorate of Customs and Excise (DGDA) jumped from approximately 4.4 billion CDF before the reform to 78.5 billion CDF afterward. By the end of 2025, DGDA had mobilized 6,848 billion CDF, exceeding the government’s annual revenue target by 9%. The combination of strong policy, coordinated government action, and Authentix’s proven fuel authentication technology transformed fuel from a major fiscal liability into a reliable and transparent source of public revenue. Authentix’s fuel marking solutions worked in parallel with the suspension of import exemptions and deferred payment facilities, creating a closed-loop system of policy, monitoring, and enforcement.
Click here to see the statement.
Alan Newman Featured in Banknote Industry News Interview
|As a trusted partner to leading central banks, Authentix is an experienced banknote security solution provider in today’s complex and rapidly changing currency markets. In a recent interview with Banknote Industry News, Alan Newman, Chief Product Officer at Authentix, offers an inside look at the evolution of QUANTUM stripe™, the company’s next‑generation nano‑optic security feature for banknotes.
Newman outlines the rigorous journey from R&D to high‑volume readiness, spanning nanostructure engineering, durability testing, manufacturing validation, and compatibility across both paper and polymer substrates. The goal: deliver the most advanced Level 1 public security feature the industry has seen. Read Now.
Authentix® Launches World’s First Nano-Optic, Plasmonic Identity Security Product
|ADDISON, Texas, December 1, 2025 — Authentix, the authority in authentication and information services, announced the production qualification and launch of PICO secure™ – a revolutionary new security product based on its award-winning Nano Optic technology. PICO secure is the first nano-optic, plasmonic optical variable device (OVD) for identity documents offering always-on-structural color and movement.
This patented, Level 1 security feature provides a high degree of public engagement and enhances any document theme with highly customizable, intuitive authentication effects. Moreover, it is fully customisable for ultimate design integration and can be applied to paper, composite substrates and embedded into polycarbonate with unmodified industry equipment. Produced with much less material than traditional micro-optic technology, there are no inks or dyes. Further, this material is produced in Authentix facilities using 100% hydro-electric power, making it one of the greenest security features for document authentication available today. PICO secure security features offer dual sided protection for government documents, passport polycarbonate data pages and more, as its effects are viewable from either side, securing both sides of the document.
“The launch of PICO secure expands Authentix’ portfolio and offerings for governments and further compliments our existing high security print business lines, supporting Authentix’s ongoing growth in these markets,” stated Kevin McKenna, President and CEO of Authentix, adding that “Nano optic security is the next generation advancement in anticounterfeiting technology and provides Governments with a completely new way to authenticate identity credentials.”
Authentix has completed the production qualification of PICO secure™, demonstrating its industrialisation and product readiness via third party applications and downstream testing. While maintaining an ultrathin profile, the PICO secure encapsulated structures enable overprinting, polycarbonate lamination and additional laser personalisation.
Authentix is now accepting orders from industry partners and customers for this revolutionary identity document solution. To request sample materials or schedule a custom design workshop, meet our team at the High Security Printing Asia Conference on December 1 – 3, 2025 or contact info@authentix.com for more information.
About Authentix
As the authority in authentication solutions, Authentix brings traceability to today’s complex global supply chains. For over 25 years, Authentix has provided clients with physical and software-enabled solutions to detect, mitigate, and prevent counterfeiting and other illicit trading activity for currency, excise taxable goods, and branded consumer products. Through a proven partnership model and deep sector expertise, clients experience custom solution design and complete program management to ensure product safety, revenue protection, and consumer trust. Headquartered in Addison, Texas USA, Authentix, Inc. has offices in North America, Europe, Middle
East, Asia, and Africa serving clients worldwide. For more information, visit https://www.authentix.com. Authentix® is a registered trademark of Authentix, Inc.
Media Contact: Kent Mansfield, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer
Kent.mansfield@authentix.com
Authentix Inc. Signs Cooperation and License Agreement with LEONHARD KURZ Stiftung & Co. KG. to Deliver High-Volume Production of QUANTUM stripe™
|ADDISON, Texas, Oct. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Authentix, a pioneer in Nano Optic Security Feature Technologies, today announced it has signed a Cooperation and License Agreement with LEONHARD KURZ, one of the world’s largest advanced high security feature manufacturing companies. This milestone confirms that QUANTUM stripe™, Authentix patented nano optic technology is now fully proven for volume manufacturing and available to the Currency market, marking a major inflection point for the industry.
Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation: Tracer Trials to Authenticate and Quantify Biofuel Volumes
|The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) recently released a report detailing the results of its pilot on the efficacy of different tracer candidates to both authenticate and quantify biofuel volumes. A series of supply chain trials, that began in July 2022 were completed in 2024, forming a key part of GCMD’s initiative to develop a framework that provides assurances on the quality, quantity, and GHG emissions abatement of drop-in green fuels.
Authentix was proud to support GCMD in two supply chain trials by providing a proprietary fuel tracer specifically designed for these biofuels used in the maritime industry. The latest trial, in Singapore took place in August 2024 while the first trial in Rotterdam, Netherlands, took place in May 2024. In both trials, the Authentix tracer was utilized to quantify and verify the biofuel content throughout the supply chain.
The Authentix MSX tracer, an organic marker composed solely of carbon and hydrogen was consistently and successfully detected and quantified at all sampling locations. At parts per billion (ppb) concentrations in the biofuel blends, detection results were highly accurate with less than 5% discrepancy reported. The report also suggests that the Authentix biofuel tracer was the most cost competitive among all the tracer options explored. With the biofuel tracer’s consistent and quantitative detection capacities, the Authentix tracer was deemed the most practical solution, balancing cost, detectability, and scalability.
For more information, the full report Tracers for biofuels authentication: Evaluating the efficacy of tracer technologies in marine fuel supply chains by the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation can be accessed here: https://www.gcformd.org/our-publications/?report-id=8514
Kevin McKenna Featured in Authentication & Brand News Interview
|We’re proud to be featured in the September edition of Authentication & Brand News™.
In this issue, our CEO Kevin McKenna shares insights on Authentix’s strategic evolution—from its origins in fuel integrity to becoming a global leader in authentication and traceability. He discusses the impact of five key acquisitions, industry consolidation, and the convergence of physical and digital security, including emerging technologies like AI, IoT, and nano-optics.
Read the full interview here.
Authentix Powers Fastex’s Groundbreaking Crypto Banknote with Next Generation Security
|Fastex Launches FTN-Backed Collectible Currency Notes
Secure and ultra-fast trading platform Fastex recently announced the release of a series of collectible currency notes, each backed 1:1 by FTN token, the platform’s native cryptocurrency. Unveiled on July 9th at the Harmony Meetup 7 in Yerevan, Armenia, the annual event that unites top minds from Web3 and iGaming, these currency notes feature advanced, banknote-grade anti-counterfeit features provided by Authentix. The notes include serial numbers, intaglio ink, optically variable ink, and metallic security foil along with elegant designs based on the planets in the solar system. Each note is redeemable at any time for its full value in FTN on the Fastex exchange. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in merging traditional banknote security with blockchain innovation, offering users a tangible and secure way to engage with digital assets.
Design and Security Features
The collectible notes, are the result of extensive research and development. Designed and printed by Royal Joh. Enschede, an Authentix Company, each note features banknote-grade anti-counterfeit technologies in use by central banks around the world, including serial numbers, intaglio and optically variable inks, metallic security foils, and a polymer substrate. These features ensure the notes have the highest standards of authenticity and durability.
As a global expert in authentication technologies and over 25 years of experience, Authentix ensures the integrity of each note as the third-party authentication provider for FTN. The currency notes are fully asset-backed and redeemable for their full value in FTN on the Fastex exchange. Users can verify authenticity through NFTs linked to each note, which are burned upon redemption, adding another layer of digital security. With this project, Fastex becomes the first Web3 crypto exchange to offer a secure, physical banknote paired with the digital cryptocurrency token registered on its exchange platform.
Authentix: Ensuring Integrity and Trust
Authentix’s involvement in this project highlights the growing importance of authentication and verification in the Web3 space. The Fastex banknote initiative sets a new benchmark for how physical and digital assets can coexist securely.
Ready to learn more about us? Click here.
Watch the full interview with Joe Galloso, Authentix’s International Sales Director, on the Fastex Crypto Banknote designed and printed by Royal Joh. Enschede and authenticated by Authentix: https://x.com/BTCTN/status/1947657889482440973
Banknote Industry News Interviews Authentix
|ADDISON, Texas, August 21, 2024 – Authentix was recently featured in the Banknote Industry News (BIN) newsletter. Chief Product Officer of Authentication, Alan Newman was interviewed by BIN to learn more about the recent acquisition by Authentix of Nanotech Security Corp. assets and how this acquisition expands Authentix’s offerings in the Currency and Commercial Brand Protection markets.
In the interview, Mr. Newman shares how the acquisition and integration of Nanotech Security Corp.’s core assets puts Authentix in a unique position of advancing a game changing and market disrupting technology based in nano optic structures and color shifting materials.
Read the full interview here.
GCMD Concludes Biofuels Supply Chain Trials
|ADDISON, Texas, July 18, 2024 — The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) has successfully completed its final supply chain trial for biofuel blended with very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO). This completion marks the culmination of a series of trials initiated in July 2022 as part of a larger pilot to develop a framework to provide quality, quantity and GHG abatement assurances for drop-in fuels.
The biofuel component comprised neat Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) produced from food waste. Authentix supplied and dosed the FAME with an organic-based tracer at the storage terminal outside the Netherlands, where it was then transported to the Port of Rotterdam for blending with VLSFO to achieve a B30 blend.
Results of the pilot showed the neat FAME had an 85.4% emissions reduction compared to the emissions of marine gas oil. Read the full release by GCMD for more information and results. To contact someone from our team, click here.