UK Committee Chairs Escalate Call to Prohibit Political Crypto Donations

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In a significant intervention, the chairs of seven UK parliamentary committees have written to the government demanding a ban on political donations made in cryptocurrency. The letter, reported by local media, adds to mounting scrutiny of digital assets in electoral finance.

Led by Liam Byrne, chair of the business and trade select committee, the signatories argue that crypto donations directly threaten the transparency, auditability, and enforcement of political funding laws. Details of the letter were published by The Guardian and The Observer.

The lawmakers highlighted specific vulnerabilities. “Crypto can obscure the true source of funds, enable thousands of micro donations below disclosure thresholds, and expose UK politics to foreign interference,” Byrne stated, adding that the Electoral Commission has flagged the unique challenges posed by the technology.

This formal request places additional strain on the Labour government, which has publicly debated a ban since mid-2025. Although ministers recognize the threat to electoral integrity, the technical and legal complexity of implementing a ban is expected to delay its inclusion in the upcoming Elections Bill.