Reform UK's three-day Birmingham conference next week will draw dignitaries from nearly a dozen countries, including the US, India, the UAE, Italy, Hungary, and Poland, along with French National Rally leader Jordan Bardella. However, the event reflects a significant repositioning: crypto companies are absent from the sponsor lineup, a stark contrast to last year when digital payments firm Zebec was a headline sponsor.
Major technology companies, construction firm Keltbray Group Ltd., equipment manufacturer JCB, TikTok, and Heathrow Airport are scheduled to attend. The party has already sold more than 600 tickets for the business event. Keltbray stated that attending was essential to understand key figures shaping construction policy and noted it would also send representatives to conferences hosted by the governing Labour and opposition Conservative parties.
Unlike last year's prominent crypto presence, no crypto brands are listed as sponsors this year, and prior benefits including complimentary passes and private meetings with senior party officials have been discontinued, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Reform UK treasurer Nick Candy characterized the international engagement as "extraordinary," asserting that the diplomatic turnout demonstrates the party's growing international influence. "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," he said.
Some businesses remain cautious about attending. One senior City PR executive revealed that executives in sectors like renewable energy are hesitant to participate for fear of appearing to validate the party. However, corporate interest in Reform UK has increased since last year's conference, with multiple PR agencies attending at their clients' request, according to SEC's Fraser Raleigh.
The reduced crypto presence reflects Reform UK's effort to broaden its appeal beyond the technology and digital-asset sectors and demonstrate readiness to govern across multiple industries. The shift is particularly notable given crypto firms' previous prominence at the party's events.
Separately, the British government has continued pursuing regulatory frameworks for digital finance. The Treasury announced plans to task the Bank of England with a secondary objective supporting growth in digital money and payment systems, provided financial stability remains uncompromised. Bank of England Deputy Governor Sarah Breeden expressed support for the mandate. Additionally, the Financial Conduct Authority dialed back proposed capital requirements for stablecoin firms following industry complaints and introduced rules bringing crypto into its official regulatory framework.
