Asking the internet for advice can be a dicey game: Users can either be helpful or take the chance to make a joke of it all—as the European Central Bank (ECB) has come to find out.
The financial institution, which oversees banknotes in the European Union, unveiled on July 23 the new design proposals for the next generation of euro banknotes. In an effort to make the decision process more collaborative, the ECB reached out to users on social media, releasing a survey for users to pick their favorite designs.
While American banknotes are known for their distinctly muted color palette, banknotes around the world often feature brighter colors and bolder designs, sporting icons of national culture.
Periodically issuing new designs helps the ECB stay on top of anti-counterfeit technology. The new series follows up on the Europa banknote series that rolled out from 2013 through 2019, with users able to vote between two themes: rivers and birds or European culture.
The cultural theme would feature European icons like Maria Callas, Marie Curie, and Miguel de Cervantes, while the nature-focused theme would depict European birds and landscapes.
“Euro banknotes are more than a means of payment – they are one of the most tangible expressions of Europe,” Christine Lagarde, president of the ECB, said in the announcement. “Through designs that combine beauty and meaning, they will reinforce our shared identity.”
Everyone’s a critic—or a designer
The designs are a result of over 1,200 applications sent in by graphic designers, ultimately narrowed down by a jury of 21 experts.
While the ECB is inviting user feedback on the shortlisted designs, users on social media have instead taken the moment to offer alternative design options.
Some expressed interest in showcasing other forms of European culture instead. For instance, a user shared renders of what banknotes featuring buildings like the Sagrada Familia, the Acropolis, and Notre Dame, would look like.
“We’re not lacking European buildings to show either, Why the birds?” the user said on X.
But most turned to satire and humor to respond to the ECB’s callout, with not all of them necessarily referencing Europe.
One user shared an image of a 20 euro banknote featuring an image of an open plastic water bottle with an attached cap, a nod to the EU regulation requiring bottle caps to stay attached.
In fact, several users shared similar renders, taking the water bottle cap design as an iconic feature of European living.
Some are sharing banknote designs featuring pets, like one user who edited images of their dog on the bills, while another added images of a cat.
Others took a less European creative direction.
“These are the best,” a user shared alongside mockup of euros featuring the anime characters of Vegeta, Bulma, Goku, and Piccolo. Another proposed banknotes depicting characters from the Pokémon world.
17 million views and counting
Perhaps not surprisingly, some used the discussion as a chance to voice their opposition to current European administrations.
In one of the user-generated designs, a 500 euro bill says “in Inflation we trust.” In another one of the designs, an image of a train is set next to the phrase “delayed but still expensive.”
While the improvised alternative designs might not actually be eligible to be chosen, the situation has at least turned new attention to the banknote-choosing process, with the ECB’s survey reaching 17 million views on X.
Users wishing to participate in the official consultation have until September 21, 2026.
