The currency used in the Animal Crossing series is Bells. Players use Bells to buy goods, pay for services, expand their homes, and settle loans connected with Tom Nook's business.
Bells are earned in many ways, including selling fish, insects, fruit, fossils, shells, crafted items, and turnips. In New Horizons, players can also plant money trees by burying Bells in glowing spots, although the resulting payout is limited by the game's rules. Bells can be stored and managed through the ABD banking system.
Players sometimes mistake Nook Miles or Nook Miles Tickets for the series' main currency. They are important New Horizons resources, but they are earned through Nook Miles+ tasks and spent at the Nook Stop. They do not replace Bells for ordinary shop purchases or home loans. Pocket Camp also introduced Leaf Tickets as a separate mobile-game currency.
The name “Bells” reflects the series' playful nature and its recurring connection between everyday activities, collecting, and personal financial progress.