general
UK nears ban on crypto political donations as ethics scandals surface
The government moves to bar crypto funding in politics as new disclosures from the Mandelson files and Epstein-linked revelations deepen scrutiny of lobbying and trigger an ethics probe into a Cabinet Office minister.
Mar 25th 2026 · United Kingdom
Insights
- Ministers are progressing proposals to ban cryptocurrency donations to political campaigns.
- Initial disclosures from the Mandelson files show a dismissed official received a £75,000 payout and later requested more than £500,000.
- Ex-staff say Epstein-related revelations forced lobbying firm Global Counsel to collapse and that earlier action against co-founder Peter Mandelson might have prevented its downfall.
- Keir Starmer’s ethics adviser Laurie Magnus will investigate whether Cabinet Office Minister Josh Simons breached rules over alleged targeting of journalists.
Sources
- Review of foreign financial interference in UK politics to be published, with ban on crypto donations expected – UK politics live www.theguardian.com
- Political donations in cryptocurrency could be blocked in blow to Reform UK www.theguardian.com
- UK moves closer to ban on crypto cash in politics www.politico.eu
- Overseas donations to UK political parties should be capped, says review www.ft.com
- Crypto donations to UK parties to be banned www.bbc.com
- What are the rules on cryptocurrency donations to UK political parties? www.theguardian.com
- UK bans crypto donations to political parties in bid to curb foreign influence apnews.com
- Labour’s donations crackdown is a blow to Reform UK – and a highly political move www.theguardian.com