Reform UK secured a record 9 million donation from aviation entrepreneur and crypto investor Christopher Harborne, a former Tory donor now based in Thailand, boosting Nigel Farage’s party fundraising.

The contribution is described as the single largest donation by a living person to a UK political party, eclipsing the previous living-person benchmark set by Lord John Sainsbury in 2022 via his will.

Harborne previously gave to Reform UK’s Brexit Party predecessor in 2019 and 2020 and had not donated to politics for five years before this gift.

Regulatory and law-enforcement concerns have been raised about stablecoins like Tether enabling illicit activity; Harborne’s lawyers dispute links between him and criminal use of Tether.

Harborne describes himself as intensely private, with limited public communication, though Thai wellness retreat materials hint at interests in longevity and healthy aging.

His wealth stems from management consulting at McKinsey, running a research firm in Asia, leading Sherriff Global Group and AML Global, plus a stake in Qinetiq and involvement with Singular AI; he is also a shareholder in Tether.

Tether reported about $13 billion in profits in 2024, and Harborne reportedly owns around 12% of the company, implying potentially large payouts though details are unclear.

Harborne is a Thailand-based entrepreneur, early investor in cryptocurrency including Tether and Bitfinex, and holds Thai citizenship under the name Chakrit Sakunkrit.

His wealth is linked to crypto ventures, notably as an early investor in Bitcoin and Ethereum and as a significant shareholder in Tether, a stablecoin issuer.

Parliament is considering a ban on crypto donations due to tracing challenges, which could affect future fundraising.

The Guardian notes Harborne’s donations have at times been private, and UK contributions have influenced political dynamics while raising questions about wealth sources.

Electoral Commission official Jackie Killeen emphasized transparency in political finance and signaled government reforms to strengthen donation controls and voter confidence.