Farage Faces Fresh Questions Over Undisclosed Support Tied to Crypto Gambling Platform

Nigel Farage, leader of the right-wing U.K. party Reform UK, has been accused of receiving financial support over several years from a figure linked to a cryptocurrency gambling platform without reporting it.

The Block and The Sunday Times reported on July 5 that, during the year before his election in the 2024 general election, Farage received support from George Cottrell for security costs, a chauffeur, wages for social media staff and accommodation. Under House of Commons rules, support worth more than 300 pounds tied to political activity must be declared. Farage reportedly disclosed only some travel expenses and flight support.

Cottrell served eight months in prison in the US in 2016 on wire-fraud charges linked to money laundering. He was later reported to have been involved in operating Tether Bet, an offshore crypto gambling platform in Montenegro that used the stablecoin Tether (USDT). The Sunday Times reported that the platform was set up shortly after a meeting involving Tether investor Christopher Harborne, Farage and Cottrell.

Farage is also being investigated by the U.K. Parliament's ethics watchdog over allegations that he failed to declare about 5 million pounds of personal support from Harborne. Farage's camp denied the allegations, saying the support was received before he became a sitting politician and did not breach the rules.

Farage is one of Britain's most prominent pro-crypto politicians. He has pledged to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve at the Bank of England and cut capital gains tax on crypto assets. But repeated revelations about his financial ties to the industry are also fueling conflict-of-interest concerns.