Reform UK Distances Itself From Crypto Industry Ahead of Annual Conference

Reform UK is keeping its distance from the digital-asset industry ahead of its annual party conference next week.

Bloomberg reported on August 29 that the party excluded digital-asset companies from the sponsor list for the annual conference, which will be held in Birmingham next week. Zebec was a major sponsor last year but is not on this year’s list.

The party has also pared back benefits previously offered to the industry. People familiar with the matter said Reform UK ended free passes for digital-asset industry officials and opportunities to meet senior party figures.

The move appears to reflect sensitivity to controversy surrounding party leader Nigel Farage’s ties to the digital-asset industry. Farage is under parliamentary investigation over whether he should have declared a £5 million ($6.7 million) donation from Christopher Harborne, who is known as a major shareholder in Tether.

Reform UK currently holds eight of the 650 seats in the UK House of Commons. Bloomberg said the party is foregrounding diplomatic influence and ties to the business community, rather than support from the digital-asset industry, as it seeks to burnish its governing credentials ahead of the next general election.