Modernising Elections Inquiry written evidence: Crypto in UK Politics and the Broader Influencing Ecosystem

CFS at RUSI submitted written evidence to the Modernising Elections Inquiry committee on cryptocurrency political donations and the wider political influencing ecosystem. The Inquiry is examining the health of electoral democracy in the UK today, including the outcome of the Rycroft Review and the Government's proposed measures in the Representation of the People Bill to combat foreign interference.

A critical issue is how the legislation should deal with the security threats posed by cryptocurrencies in political donations. This written evidence explains the findings of CFS at RUSI's Cryptocurrencies in UK Politics project – that a blanket ban offers less protection that it appears and that a moratorium, to be lifted once an appropriate regulatory regime has been designed, is the best way to futureproof our political finance system against undue influence and foreign inference.

Another important consideration is the influencing power of non-political actors, such as think tanks and policy organisations. This written evidence outlines some of the key issues CFS at RUSI is considering as part of its Influence Conduits in UK Politics and Policy project.