Farage accepted undisclosed gifts from crypto-linked figure

Nigel Farage accepted undisclosed staff, security, transport and accommodation from George Cottrell, who pleaded guilty to a US wire fraud charge in the United States. The majority of these benefits were provided before Farage was elected to Parliament in July 2024, and some support continued after the election.

Cottrell provided drivers and a security detail made up largely of former soldiers, recruited and paid three social media staff, and has allowed Farage use of a rented five‑storey house near Buckingham Palace. On entering Parliament, Farage registered a single benefit from Cottrell: travel, security and accommodation worth under £9,300 for an event in Belgium. Farage issued a statement saying he “followed the rules” and described the coverage as a “hit job.”

In 2016 Cottrell was arrested in the United States on multiple charges. He later pleaded guilty to one wire fraud count as part of a plea agreement and served eight months in prison. He is linked to an offshore gambling site that uses the Tether (USDt) stablecoin.

A separate inquiry opened in May is examining whether Farage failed to declare a £5 million gift from Christopher Harborne, who holds partial ownership of the stablecoin company Tether. Farage has maintained the Harborne funds were used to pay for his personal security before he became an MP and therefore did not require registration.

Labour MP Phil Brickell, who chairs a parliamentary anti‑corruption group, referred Farage to the standards commissioner. Brickell alleges Farage claimed credit for persuading the Bank of England to soften its position on a central bank digital currency and contends Harborne could benefit financially from opposition to a state‑backed digital currency. Brickell asked the commissioner to consider whether an MP who has received substantial sums from a single individual should lobby on policies that might affect that donor’s investments.

Farage and the Reform party have promoted changes to UK cryptocurrency policy. The party published draft legislation aimed at expanding the UK crypto industry, accepted donations in Bitcoin, proposed cutting capital gains tax on crypto from 24% to 10%, and called for the Bank of England to hold a Bitcoin reserve. In March the Treasury temporarily banned political donations made in cryptocurrencies while regulators assess how to treat such contributions.

Parliamentary records show only limited formal registration of benefits linked to Cottrell. A Reform source said Farage usually stayed at his own home and did not routinely use the Buckingham Palace property. The current inquiries will examine whether all relevant benefits and potential conflicts were properly declared and whether any lobbying on crypto policy was influenced by donors’ financial interests.