Key facts
- Reform UK is sidelining crypto companies at its upcoming conference.
- The party has cut the industry's access to senior figures.
- Crypto firms are not represented in the conference's corporate partners or satellite events.
- This shift follows backlash over a £5m gift to Nigel Farage from bitcoin billionaire Christopher Harborne.
- Reform UK previously championed digital assets and published a 'Cryptoassets and Digital Finance Bill'.
Reform UK is significantly scaling back its engagement with the crypto industry at its upcoming annual conference, a move attributed to backlash over substantial donations from crypto-linked individuals. The party, once a vocal champion of digital assets, will not feature crypto companies as corporate partners or in its satellite events, and has eliminated perks like free tickets and access to senior figures for industry executives.
This strategic pivot marks a sharp contrast to previous years, where crypto firms were prominent sponsors and their priorities were discussed on stage. The decision comes after months of scrutiny regarding Reform UK's ties with donors such as Anglo-Thai billionaire Christopher Harborne, who gifted the party £5m, with a significant portion of his wealth derived from early digital asset investments, including a stake in stablecoin Tether. The party has also faced scrutiny over its association with 'Posh' George Cottrell, a convicted fraudster whose fortune was partly built from crypto trading.
Reform UK's previous economic platform included a focus on expediting digital asset adoption, with proposals for a reduced 10% capital gains tax on digital assets and a sovereign bitcoin reserve. However, the 'Cryptoassets and Digital Finance Bill' is no longer prominently featured on the party's website.
Sources indicate a "concerted effort to dial down digital assets and crypto" at the conference. This change is also seen as a response to increased interest from more conventional industries following Reform UK's performance in recent local elections. The upcoming conference will feature an inaugural Reform UK business day, with sponsors including Heathrow, Google, Cadent Gas, and Lloyds Bank hosting panel sessions.