Get quick access to our research papers, public consultations and surveys related to bank notes.
See also our backgrounders and explainers on bank notes.
Research papers
You can browse all our staff research on bank notes. Here's the latest:
2021 Methods-of-Payment Survey Report
Staff Discussion Paper 2022-23
Christopher Henry,
Matthew Shimoda,
Julia Zhu
We present results from the 2021 Methods-of-Payment Survey, including updated payment shares. We highlight long-term trends and provide additional context for results with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Content Type(s):
Staff research,
Staff discussion papers
Topic(s):
Bank notes,
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19),
Digital currencies and fintech,
Financial services
JEL Code(s):
D,
D8,
D83,
E,
E4,
E41
Private Digital Cryptoassets as Investment? Bitcoin Ownership and Use in Canada, 2016-2021
Staff Working Paper 2022-44
Daniela Balutel,
Walter Engert,
Christopher Henry,
Kim Huynh,
Marcel Voia
We report on the dynamics of Bitcoin awareness and ownership from 2016 to 2021, using the Bank of Canada's Bitcoin Omnibus Surveys (BTCOS). Our analysis also helps understand Bitcoin owners who adopted during the COVID-19 and how they differ from long-term owners.
Content Type(s):
Staff research,
Staff working papers
Topic(s):
Bank notes,
Digital currencies and fintech,
Econometric and statistical methods
JEL Code(s):
C,
C1,
C12,
E,
E4,
O,
O5,
O51
Cash, COVID-19 and the Prospects for a Canadian Digital Dollar
Staff Discussion Paper 2022-17
Walter Engert,
Kim Huynh
We provide an analysis of cash trends in Canada before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also consider the potential two scenarios for issuance of a central bank digital currency in Canada: the emergence of a cashless society or the widespread use of an alternative digital currency in Canada. Finally, we discuss the Canadian experience in maintaining cash as an efficient and accessible method of payment and store of value.
Content Type(s):
Staff research,
Staff discussion papers
Topic(s):
Bank notes,
Central bank research,
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19),
Digital currencies and fintech,
Econometric and statistical methods
JEL Code(s):
C,
C1,
C12,
C9,
E,
E4,
O,
O5,
O54
Cash in the Pocket, Cash in the Cloud: Cash Holdings of Bitcoin Owners
Staff Working Paper 2022-26
Daniela Balutel,
Christopher Henry,
Kim Huynh,
Marcel Voia
We estimate the effect that owning Bitcoin has on the amount of cash held by Canadian consumers. Our results question the view that adopting certain new technologies, such as Bitcoin, leads to a decline in cash holdings.
Content Type(s):
Staff research,
Staff working papers
Topic(s):
Bank notes,
Digital currencies and fintech,
Econometric and statistical methods
JEL Code(s):
C,
C1,
C12,
E,
E4,
O,
O3,
O33,
O5,
O51
Public consultations
Consulting Canadians on visual content is integral to our design process for new bank notes.
Principles for Bank Note Design Consultation
Read the highlights of this consultation, and see how the design principles have been applied to bank notes like these.
Surveys
The Bank regularly surveys Canadian businesses and citizens to better understand how and why cash is used by assessing awareness, attitudes, and behaviours with respect to bank notes.
Survey results allow the Bank to monitor its progress, to identify potential issues or opportunities, and to adapt its programs, tools, and services as needed.
Bank Note Confidence Survey
The Bank of Canada supplies Canadians with bank notes they can use with confidence—notes that are readily accepted and secure against counterfeiting. To monitor and assess public confidence in the authenticity of bank notes, we conduct a survey twice a year. This survey is based on a representative sample of 2,700 residents of Canada.
Methods-of-Payment Survey
The Bank of Canada surveys Canadian consumers to get a better understanding of how they pay for goods and services.
Merchant Acceptance Survey
The Merchant Acceptance Survey (MAS) helps the Bank of Canada understand trends when it comes to the methods of payment accepted by Canadian businesses.
Cash and COVID-19: What happened in 2021
Using data from the Bank Note Distribution System and consumer surveys, we find that bank notes in circulation remained high through 2021. Canadians continued to rely on electronic methods of payment, but a significant share also continued using cash for payments.
Frontiers Series: 2011–12 Awareness Survey
This survey measured Canadians’ awareness of the polymer bank notes. Respondents were asked if they recalled hearing of any upcoming changes to Canadian bank notes, and if so, where they first heard of the polymer bank notes.