The Continuing Importance of Physical Identity Documents and Banknotes – Part I

WHY DO WE STILL NEED PHYSICAL IDs AND BANKNOTES?

Trust and security have become more important than ever in today's increasingly digital world. Physical IDs and banknotes remain essential for stability, authenticity, and accessibility. They provide undeniable proof of identity, enable secure transactions, and help safeguard national economies from fraud and counterfeiting.

To protect these critical assets (physical IDs and currency), advanced security solutions must be implemented. At IQ Structures, we develop the most advanced optical security solutions that enhance protection across multiple areas:

🪪 Identity documents – ID cards, passports, driver’s licenses, and similar docs. 

💵 Banknotes – securing currencies against counterfeiting. 

🪙 Other valuable assets – including precious metals. 

TANGIBILITY AND TRUST

The psychological impact of tangibility is crucial, especially in scenarios where trust is the key factor. Holding a physical document – whether an ID card, passport, driver’s license, or banknote – provides users with a level of authenticity that digital forms simply cannot reach.

IQ Structures' nanoengineered IQ proID security technology takes identity document protection – and therefore its reliability – even further by:

✅ Using controlled nanostructures and complex mathematical algorithms to create inimitable security features.

✅ Protecting the entire document surface with large nanoDOVIDs (Diffractive Optically Variable Image Devices).

✅ Creating irreversible anti-tampering protection, ensuring documents remain authentic and unaltered.

✅ Seamlessly integrating with other security technologies for multi-layered protection.

ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSIVITY

While digitalisation continues to grow, not everyone has equal access to the necessary technology.

Even Sweden, which appeared to be on its way to becoming a cashless society, has recognised the crucial role of physical cash in an inclusive economy. The Sveriges riksbank now emphasises that "payments must work for everyone," highlighting the vital role of physical payment options.

Physical documents and banknotes ensure universal access, ensuring that essential services remain accessible to all citizens, regardless of their technological capabilities, financial status, or geographic location.

PIONEERING BANKNOTE SECURITY

Banknotes are more than a means of payment. They represent national heritage, often featuring historical figures, cultural icons, and key events.

In 2024, IQ Structures took a significant step forward by partnering with Hueck Folien GmbH and launching the Nanovista™ brand together with its first Nanoswitch® product line.

Our cutting-edge nanostructures provide top-level security through unprecedented color-switching effects, ensuring that banknotes are both highly secure and visually captivating.

Discover more about the world of Nanovista™ at https://nanovista.world.