Botasupal: Enhanced Rupiah Security Features Suppress Counterfeit Circulation

The Counterfeit Money Eradication Coordination Body (Botasupal) has stated that the development of security features on the rupiah is considered a key factor in suppressing the circulation of counterfeit money in Indonesia. Botasupal General Secretary Brigadier General Pol Mulyono said that Spark Live is one of the mainstay features representing the advancement of rupiah security technology, making it increasingly difficult to counterfeit while also making it easier for the public and authorities to recognise the authenticity of the currency. “One of our mainstay features is Spark Live. This feature appears to come alive when the note is tilted. To date, this feature has not been successfully counterfeited,” Mulyono said during a discussion at the 2026 Sovereign Rupiah Festival in Jakarta on Friday. He explained that the rupiah has a number of security features that must be continuously updated. Currently, there are around 15 to 17 security features that need to be understood by both the public and law enforcement officials. According to him, the strength of the rupiah’s security features has contributed to the relatively low circulation of counterfeit money in Indonesia compared to several other countries. Based on Botasupal data, in 2024–2025 the ratio of counterfeit money in Indonesia was around 4 notes per 1 million notes in circulation. Meanwhile, throughout 2026 up to August, the ratio fell to around 2 notes per 1 million notes in circulation. In contrast, the circulation of counterfeit money abroad reaches around 9 to 14 notes per 1 million notes, or at most ranges from 14 to 20 notes per 1 million notes. Understanding these features is important for detecting evolving counterfeiting methods. If a feature is found to have been imitated by perpetrators, Bank Indonesia together with Botasupal elements can conduct an evaluation and further enhance the rupiah’s security technology. “When there are features that begin to be counterfeited, we will upgrade them. We cooperate with our colleagues from Bank Indonesia so that our currency features continue to be improved and are not easily counterfeited again,” he said. Mulyono explained that in terms of materials, counterfeit money found is generally still of low quality because it is usually printed on ordinary paper using coloured printer ink, whereas genuine rupiah notes use cotton-based paper. He also added that the use of non-cash transactions has contributed to suppressing the circulation of counterfeit money by reducing the use of physical currency in economic activities. Therefore, the public is also urged to understand the characteristics of genuine rupiah and to immediately report any notes of dubious authenticity to a bank or the police.