You’ve probably heard whispers about a massive currency overhaul. People keep asking when we are getting a new US dollar 100 bill, and the answer is a mix of "soon" and "not for a while."
Cash is changing.
Honestly, it’s about time. While the digital world moves at light speed, the physical paper in your wallet—well, it's actually 75% cotton and 25% linen—is still the backbone of global trust. But here is the thing: the $100 bill you’re holding right now is actually a masterpiece of engineering from 2013. If you're looking for a brand-new 2026 design, you might be a little early to the party, but the "Catalyst Series" is already in motion.
The 2034 Timeline: Why You Won't See a New Benjamin Just Yet
Government projects move slowly. Like, glacially slow.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) recently laid out a roadmap for the next decade. They’re calling it the Catalyst Series. This isn’t just a facelift; it’s a ground-up rebuild of how American money looks and feels. But the $100 note is actually the last one on the list.
- Late 2026: The $10 bill gets the first makeover.
- 2028: The $50 bill follows.
- 2030: The $20 bill (this is the one everyone is watching because of the Harriet Tubman discussions).
- 2032: The $5 bill.
- 2034: The big one. The new US dollar 100.
Why wait until 2034? Basically, the current $100 bill is already packed with the most advanced tech the US has ever used. It features a 3-D Security Ribbon that isn't even printed on the paper—it’s woven through it. Because the $100 is the most frequent target for international counterfeiters, the feds decided the current version is still "good enough" to hold the line while they fix the easier-to-fake smaller bills first.
What’s Actually Changing in 2026?
Even though the $100 bill design isn't changing this second, 2026 is a massive year for the "C-note."
For starters, the way they are printed is shifting. The US Currency Program has started using new equipment that produces non-sequential serial numbers. If you withdraw a stack of cash from the bank and notice the numbers don't follow a perfect 01, 02, 03 order, don't panic. It's not a fake. It’s just the new high-speed printing process at work.
Also, 2026 marks the official start of the Catalyst rollout. While we won't get a new Benjamin portrait, the $10 bill arriving in late 2026 will give us a preview of the security features that will eventually land on the $100.
The Tactile Feature: A Game Changer for Accessibility
One of the biggest upgrades is something you can feel, not just see. For the first time in history, US bills will have tactile features to help people with visual impairments tell them apart.
Currently, a $1 and a $100 feel exactly the same. That’s a huge problem. By the time the new US dollar 100 hits the streets in the next decade, it will have a distinct physical texture or raised pattern that separates it from a $10 or $20.
How to Spot a "New" 2013-Series $100 Right Now
Since we have a few years to wait for the next generation, you need to be an expert on the current "New" series (the one with the large, borderless Ben Franklin).
Most people just look for the watermark. That's fine, but amateur. If you want to be sure, check the Bell in the Inkwell.
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Inside the copper-colored inkwell on the front of the bill, there is a bell. If you tilt the bill, that bell changes from copper to green. When it turns green, it "disappears" into the inkwell. It’s a color-shifting trick that is incredibly hard for a standard printer to replicate.
The 3-D Security Ribbon
Look at the blue strip. Don't just look at it—move the bill.
- Tilt it back and forth: The bells change to "100s" and move side-to-side.
- Tilt it side-to-side: The bells and "100s" move up and down.
The ribbon is made of hundreds of thousands of micro-lenses. It’s high-tech optics disguised as a piece of paper. If that ribbon feels like it's just sitting on top of the paper, it’s a fake. It should feel like it's part of the soul of the bill.
The "Star Note" is Dying
Here is a weird bit of trivia for the collectors out there. In 2026, the BEP is moving away from "star notes."
Usually, if a bill is ruined during printing, they replace it with a note that has a little star at the end of the serial number. The new 2026 printing equipment is so efficient (and uses that non-sequential numbering I mentioned earlier) that they won't need star notes anymore. If you have a $100 star note, keep it. They’re becoming relics.
Why We Can't Just "Recall" the Old Bills
People often ask if their old $100 bills will become worthless when the new US dollar 100 eventually comes out.
The answer is a hard no.
The United States has never devalued its currency. Every bill ever printed is still worth its face value. You could walk into a grocery store with a $100 bill from 1950, and technically, it's still legal tender. (Though, honestly, a collector would probably pay you way more than $100 for it).
This is why the US dollar is the world's reserve currency. It’s the "never-expire" promise.
Actionable Steps for Handling the New Currency Era
Things are moving, and you don't want to be the person at the register holding up the line because you think a real bill is a fake.
- Audit your tech: If you run a business, 2026 is the year to check your bill counters. The new non-sequential serial numbers and the upcoming $10 redesign might trip up older machines.
- Trust the tilt: Stop relying on those little yellow detector pens. High-end counterfeits can bypass them. Use the "Tilt, Look, Feel" method. If the 3-D ribbon doesn't move, it's a piece of paper, not a paycheck.
- Watch the $10 release: Keep an eye out in late 2026. The $10 bill will be the "test pilot" for the design language of the future $100.
- Don't swap your old cash: There is zero reason to rush to the bank to trade in older $100 bills. They aren't going anywhere.
The new US dollar 100 represents more than just money; it’s a decade-long security project. While the 2034 release date feels like a lifetime away, the changes starting in 2026 are the foundation for the most secure cash we’ve ever seen.
Keep an eye on your change. The future of the dollar is already being printed.