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Crypto Billionaire’s $7M Gift Puts UK Reform Leader Under Ethics Spotlight

A £5 million ($6.7 million) reward from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne has landed Reform UK chief Nigel Farage earlier than a parliamentary requirements watchdog over an alleged disclosure failure.

The Size Of The Donation

According to reports, the cash got here from Harborne, a British cryptocurrency investor based mostly in Thailand who gave £9 million to Reform UK in a single donation final yr — the biggest reward to a UK political celebration by a residing individual in British historical past.

His complete contributions to Reform reached £12 million in 2025. The separate £5 million fee went on to Farage in early 2024, months earlier than Farage received a seat in Parliament.

Farage says the money was given to cowl his private safety prices and describes it as a personal, unconditional reward with no political strings connected.

His workplace confirmed it’s involved with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and mentioned they count on the inquiry to clear him. “No guidelines have been damaged,” a Reform spokesman mentioned.

What The Rules Actually Say

Commons guidelines require newly elected MPs to register monetary pursuits and any advantages obtained within the 12 months earlier than their election. Farage was elected in July 2024. The reward was made in early 2024, which locations it squarely inside that window.

The guidelines do enable exemptions for purely private items, however in addition they state that each the giver’s doable motive and the meant use of the cash have to be weighed. Where doubt exists, registration is anticipated.

This shouldn’t be the primary time Farage has run into disclosure issues. Earlier this yr, he was discovered to have registered £384,000 in pursuits late. Standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg dominated that breach was unintentional and allowed Farage to replace his data with out dealing with formal punishment.

Opposition Parties Push Back

Labour and the Conservatives have each known as for solutions. Labour Party chair Anna Turley mentioned Farage has been dodging questions because the reward first got here to gentle and known as the investigation applicable.

The Conservatives, who filed the criticism that triggered the inquiry, additionally raised the matter individually with the Electoral Commission, which mentioned it’s reviewing the data.

A Conservative spokesman put it bluntly: £5 million is greater than most individuals earn in a lifetime, and Farage owes the general public an evidence for the way and why he obtained it.

If the Commissioner finds Farage violated the code of conduct, doable penalties vary from a proper apology to suspension from Parliament. Expulsion stays an possibility in probably the most severe circumstances.

Featured picture from Mark Thomas/Alamy, chart from TradingView

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