Wednesday, August 19, 2026 - The Swiss franc has surged to a 10-year high against the euro amid market volatility, prompting concerns about its impact on Swiss exports. Analysts suggest the Swiss National Bank may intervene to curb the currency's strength. Additionally, the franc's resilience persists despite recent tariff threats, with some viewing it as an underappreciated safe-haven asset.
| 1 $ = | Start | 08/25/2026 | Change | |
| Last 24 hours | 0.8023 SFr | ⇨ | 0.8013 SFr | -0.13% |
| Last week | 0.8125 SFr | ⇨ | 0.8013 SFr | -1.38% |
| Last month | 0.8169 SFr | ⇨ | 0.8013 SFr | -1.91% |
| Last year | 0.8059 SFr | ⇨ | 0.8013 SFr | -0.57% |
| Currency | 08/18/2026 | 08/25/2026 | Change | |
| Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) | 18.678 ZK | ⇨ | 19.05 ZK | +1.99% |
| Venezuelan Bolívar (VES) | 771.58 Bs. | ⇨ | 783.68 Bs. | +1.57% |
| Ghanaian Cedi (GHS) | 11.052 ₵ | ⇨ | 11.19 ₵ | +1.25% |
| Argentine Peso (ARS) | 1,495 $ | ⇨ | 1,511.8 $ | +1.12% |
| Costa Rican Colón (CRC) | 449.27 ₡ | ⇨ | 453.82 ₡ | +1.01% |
| New Zealand Dollar (NZD) | 1.7021 NZ$ | ⇨ | 1.6727 NZ$ | -1.73% |
| South African Rand (ZAR) | 16.224 R | ⇨ | 15.924 R | -1.85% |
| Hungarian Forint (HUF) | 315.54 Ft | ⇨ | 308.86 Ft | -2.12% |
| South Korean Won (KRW) | 1,412.6 ₩ | ⇨ | 1,381.8 ₩ | -2.18% |
| Seychellois Rupee (SCR) | 14.295 SR | ⇨ | 13.777 SR | -3.62% |
| See also: 24h, monthly and yearly currency moves | ||||
| Currency name | Swiss Franc |
| Symbol | SFr |
| Also known as | Swiss franc, CHF, 1 CHF = 100 rappen (German) / centimes (French) / centesimi (Italian) |
| ISO code | CHF |
| Banknotes | CHF 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 1000 |
| Coins | 5, 10, 20, 50 rappen; CHF 1, 2, 5 |
| Central bank | Swiss National Bank (SNB) - Website: www.snb.ch |
| Countries | 1 country + 3 territories: Switzerland (capital: Bern), Liechtenstein |
| Population | 9 mil. |
History
The Swiss franc is the national currency of Switzerland and the much smaller Principality of Liechtenstein, where it circulates as legal tender. The name derives from the Latin Franciscus, a reference to the Frankish king whose image appeared on early medieval coins. Switzerland adopted the franc as its national currency in 1850, replacing a chaotic patchwork of cantonal and foreign coins that had complicated commerce for centuries.
In 1865, Switzerland joined the Latin Monetary Union — a gold-and-silver standard shared with France, Belgium, and Italy — tying the franc to a fixed silver and gold content. When the union dissolved after World War I, Switzerland quickly stabilised the franc and maintained it on the gold standard longer than most European nations, abandoning it only in 1936 under severe deflationary pressure.
After World War II, the Swiss franc was pegged to the US dollar under Bretton Woods at 4.375 francs per dollar. Following the collapse of that system, the franc floated freely from 1973 onward. Its reputation for stability, backed by Switzerland's political neutrality, strong institutions, and conservative monetary policy, made it one of the world's premier safe-haven currencies.
During the 2008 financial crisis and Europe's sovereign debt crisis, massive capital inflows pushed the franc to record highs against the euro. In September 2011, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) imposed a floor of 1.20 francs per euro to protect Swiss exporters, removing this peg abruptly in January 2015 — causing one of the most dramatic single-day moves in modern forex history. The franc surged over 20% in minutes.
The SNB, founded in 1907, manages monetary policy with a long-standing focus on price stability and, when necessary, currency interventions to prevent excessive appreciation.
Sources:
"Swiss franc", Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_franc
"Swiss National Bank", Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_National_Bank