Record £9M Crypto Donation to UK Reform Party Sparks Donation Debate
Reform UK received an unprecedented £9 million (approximately $12 million) donation from Christopher Harborne, a Thailand-based entrepreneur and crypto investor. This gift marks the largest single donation ever made by a living individual to a UK political party, surpassing all previous contributions except for a posthumous £10 million donation by Lord John Sainsbury to the Conservative Party in 2022.
Harborne, linked to AML Global and Sherriff Group and an investor in digital assets such as Tether and Bitfinex, has a history of political donations to the Conservative Party and the Brexit Party (now Reform UK) during 2019–2020. His recent donation was disclosed in an Electoral Commission filing in December 2025 and delivered in cash to Reform UK.
In the third quarter of 2025, Reform UK raised over £10.2 million, outpacing the Conservative Party's £4.6 million, Labour's £2.1 million, and the Liberal Democrats' £1 million. This marks the first time since the 2024 general election that Reform has out-raised Conservatives over a full quarter. Longer-term data since July 2024 shows Conservatives raised about £14.4 million compared to Reform UK’s approximately £13.5 million. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described Harborne’s donation as a one-off, emphasizing the party's preference for consistent smaller donors.
Reform UK's leader Nigel Farage has actively courted cryptocurrency donations, launching a digital donation portal and signaling the party's acceptance of Bitcoin donations. This milestone donation is the first crypto contribution recorded in British political history.
In response, the UK government is examining a potential ban on crypto political donations over concerns about transparency and risks of foreign interference. Security experts warn that while blockchain records are public, the origin of funds can be obscured through complex wallet structures and offshore arrangements.
These developments occur amidst a broader context of political finance scrutiny, including Nathan Gill’s conviction over pro-Russian payments and ongoing reforms proposed in the Elections Bill aimed at tightening donation rules regarding shell companies and enhancing risk checks, alongside wider digital asset regulation efforts.
