Reform UK has removed cryptocurrency companies from its sponsor list for its annual conference in Birmingham, a shift that coincides with heightened scrutiny of the party's ties to digital asset firms.
Last year, digital payments firm Zebec served as a key backer. This year, no crypto company appears on the sponsor lineup, and perks including free tickets and access to senior figures have been cut, according to reports from Bloomberg.
Diplomatic Focus Over Crypto
The party is instead highlighting international diplomatic presence at the conference. Honorary treasurer Nick Candy noted that envoys from India, Italy, Poland, the UAE, and the US are expected to attend, alongside French National Rally leader Jordan Bardella.
"The scale and breadth of the diplomatic presence at the conference next week is a clear indication of how seriously Reform is being taken internationally," Candy said in a statement to Bloomberg.
On the business side, Reform UK sold more than 600 tickets on its opening business day, drawing interest from companies including JCB, TikTok, and Heathrow.
Crypto Policies Unchanged
Despite the removal of crypto sponsors, Reform UK has announced no policy changes regarding digital assets. The retreat focuses on sponsorships and associated perks rather than the party's stated positions on cryptocurrency.
The shift occurs amid a parliamentary probe examining whether party leader Nigel Farage should have declared £5 million received from Christopher Harborne, a Thailand-based crypto investor. Farage's crypto lobbying activities have drawn separate scrutiny this year.
Reform UK currently holds eight of 650 seats in Parliament, though polling suggests the populist party may be in contention for the 2029 election.
UK Police Record Crypto Seizure
In a separate development, Avon and Somerset Police recovered 20.21 Bitcoin along with other cryptocurrency and cash valued at £1,032,487.86 from a deceased convicted money launderer. Investigators traced the funds to darknet marketplaces that operated between 2016 and 2019.
The seizure marks the police force's largest crypto recovery since Britain introduced wallet freezing orders in April 2024. Under the Proceeds of Crime Act, the forfeiture proceeded against the property rather than the individual, who had died before the case concluded. Recovered funds are directed to community and policing programs.
