Hasty Briefsbeta

UK ministers aim to ban cryptocurrency political donations over anonymity risks

9 days ago
  • #political donations
  • #cryptocurrency
  • #electoral integrity
  • Ministers are working to ban political donations made with cryptocurrency due to concerns over electoral integrity.
  • The ban is unlikely to be ready for the upcoming elections bill, which includes measures like lowering the voting age to 16.
  • Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, is the first UK party to accept cryptocurrency donations, raising concerns about traceability.
  • Government sources highlight difficulties in tracing cryptocurrency donations, fearing exploitation by foreign powers or criminals.
  • The Electoral Commission initially viewed cryptocurrency donations as manageable but has grown increasingly skeptical about verifying their origins.
  • Campaign groups warn that cryptocurrency donations pose risks to democracy, citing potential foreign interference and untraceable transactions.