New banknotes are here — can old ones still be used? Cambodia officially responds to the new riel issuance

Cambodian Riel sees a new change! On September 25, Cambodia officially issued new 50,000-riel and 100,000-riel banknotes. Like the current notes of the same denominations, the new banknotes are legal tender and will circulate alongside existing notes in the market.
The new notes not only feature a redesigned look but also incorporate additional anti-counterfeiting elements. The new 50,000-riel note uses reddish-brown and brown tones and includes a security thread running through the banknote; the new 100,000-riel note is dominated by green and gray, and incorporates Cambodian signature elements such as the national emblem and Naga sculptures.

It is worth noting that back in August this year, videos and images of so-called "new riel banknotes" circulated on social media. The National Bank of Cambodia subsequently confirmed that this content was AI-generated disinformation and reminded the public not to believe or spread it.
Now that the official new banknotes have been officially launched, the earlier "fake new banknote" controversy has a clear answer. In recent years, the National Bank of Cambodia has continued to promote greater use of the riel and expand the use of the local currency through payment systems and other means.

So if you receive a new 50,000- or 100,000-riel note in the future, don't be surprised — this time it's real! However, please note that both old and new versions can currently be used normally; the old notes will not become invalid just because the new version has been issued.