Introducing cBREEZE® – Tailor-Made Banknote Security

When it comes to protecting low-denomination banknotes, central banks have long faced a dilemma: how to balance cost-efficiency with strong, intuitive security. Now, Crane Currency offers a modern answer for modern banknotes – one that is bright, bold, and built on proven technology. Say hello to cBREEZE®. 

This new member of Crane’s micro-optic family is tailor-made for the high-volume, high-touch reality of lower-value notes. Designed with durability, cost-efficiency and public trust in mind, cBREEZE brings the same visual dynamism and security pedigree as its sibling RAPID® HD, but in a simplified and more accessible form. 

“With cBREEZE, we wanted to give central banks a fresh way to protect all denominations – not just the high ones,” says Karin Como, Senior Product Manager at Crane Currency. “It’s about consistency, pride and public engagement across the full banknote family.” 

 

Proven Technology, Reimagined for Scale 

At its core, cBREEZE is built on Crane’s proprietary micro-optic technology – the same trusted platform used to protect billions of banknotes worldwide. What sets cBREEZE apart is its straightforward implementation and its clever calibration for high-velocity notes. 

With six vivid colors and three distinct movement effects (Cubic, Ripple, and Stellar), cBREEZE ensures that even the most frequently used notes are instantly authenticable. The high-contrast visuals remain clear and fluid – even in low lighting conditions – offering a security feature that doesn’t just perform in the lab, but in the real world.  

“The movement is unmistakable,” says Karin Como. “It’s fast, fluid, and easy for the public to verify without explanation. And for central banks, that kind of intuitive design is invaluable.” 

 

Counterfeiters today have access to commercial-grade color-shifting materials, the kind still used by many note issuers. In contrast, Crane’s micro-optics are not available on the open market and deliver a level of protection far beyond traditional threads. 

cBREEZE also supports machine readability with Detect – a secure, infrared-based layer for high-speed verification in automated cash processing. The approach improves automated validation and processing, helping to bolster public trust in the banknote’s integrity. 

Designed to Last – and Be Seen 

Built with sealed micro-lenses and fully compatible with over-varnishing, cBREEZE is engineered to stand up to everyday wear, with uncompromising brightness and movement. Each thread is easy to integrate into existing designs, with exactly the customization most used by security threads, i.e., central bank identity, currency code or denomination. 

“We designed cBREEZE to meet the realities of modern circulation,” says Karin Como. “We’ve seen many central banks retain in low denomination banknotes, commoditized features like color-shifting thread for lack of modern, effective alternatives. cBREEZE addresses this problem. It’s tough, machine-readable, and instantly recognizable – and it performs wherever the note goes, in any pocket and every lighting condition.” 

Unity in Diversity: One Family of Notes 

One of cBREEZE’s most powerful advantages is how seamlessly it fits into a modern, harmonized banknote series. By pairing cBREEZE with Crane’s more customizable solutions like MOTION SURFACE® or RAPID® Vision on higher denominations, central banks can achieve a unified design language of public security and a consistent experience across all values. 

It’s security you can see, trust you can feel – and a reminder that every note, no matter the denomination, deserves care, pride and protection.