Cryptocurrencies in UK Politics
Our work examines the risk of opaque, foreign or malign influence entering UK politics via cryptocurrency donations.
Introduction
As the UK government moves to tighten safeguards against undue financial interference in politics, a crucial blind spot remains – cryptocurrency donations. Despite the rapid growth in cryptocurrency use, including by UK political parties, the government plans to apply the same rules to digital donations as fiat money.Â
The assumption that political finance regulations can be applied to cash and crypto alike, without creating dangerous loopholes, is being increasingly challenged by both technical experts and international precedent.
Our project will deliver the first in-depth UK assessment of the democratic, security, and transparency risks posed by political donations made in cryptocurrency. It will benchmark the UK’s current and proposed frameworks against international practice, highlight vulnerabilities, and develop targeted reforms.
Project sponsor
Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust
This project is funded by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust (JRRT).
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Aims and objectives
We aim to explore the complex security risks posed by cryptocurrency donations, including the potential misuse of digital currencies to unduly influence UK politics and policy.
Our research will:
- Examine how cryptocurrency political donations could be used for undue influence, foreign funding and the erosion of transparency in party finance.
- Assess if existing or proposed regulatory regimes can provide adequate protection against the security risks posed by cryptocurrency political donations.
- Provide recommendations to ensure that the UK's political finance system evolves in step with emerging technologies.
The project will be supported by a series of events, with the project's findings published in a research report in 2026.
