In short
- Billionaire Tether investor Christopher Harborne has entered the Sunday Times Rich List in sixth place, with most of his wealth tied to his Tether price.
- Harborne’s gift of $6.7 million to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in 2024 was scrutinized.
- Farage is facing an investigation into the gift, which he said was a “prize” for the Brexit campaign.
Christopher Harborne, chief salesman in stablecoin The issuer of Tether and supporter of funds of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, has been named one of the richest people in the UK as Farage faces a parliamentary investigation on a $ 6.7 million (£ 5 million) gift from a crypto billionaire.
The Sunday Times it released its year Rich List On Friday, it placed Harborne in sixth place in the UK with a turnover of around $24.4 billion (£18.2 billion).
Most of Harborne’s wealth is said to come from a 12% stake in Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin, which has been valued at around $200 billion. Tether report $1.04 billion in profits for the first quarter this year, with savings of $8.23 billion and about $192 billion in savings.
Harborne lawyers said he said he owns shares in Tether and its sister company Bitfinex, but does not own any of them.
This position makes Harborne the wealthiest person in the north of England and Yorkshire, with more wealth than all the other top 10 Yorkshiremen combined, Sunday Times. He was also listed as the richest British-born person in the 2026 list, although he has lived in Thailand for over two decades and holds Thai citizenship under the name Chakrit Sakunkrit.
The ‘prize’ of Brexit?
Harborne emerged as a key financial supporter of Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK and Member of Parliament for Clacton.
He has donated about $16.1 million to Reform UK, including about $12.1 million a donation Late last year it was described as the biggest political donation from a living person in British history.
On Thursday, the Commissioner for Parliamentary Standards in the UK he opened it An investigation into whether Farage would have announced that Harborne had donated $6.7 million, which was made before the Reform UK leader stood for the 2024 general election.
Farage already he said The gift was an “unrestricted, neutral, personal gift” that was supposed to pay for his defense, he added, adding that he was “not forced” to declare it.
In a interview and The sun On Thursday, Farage said the money was “unreservedly” and “a reward for campaigning for Brexit for 27 years,” as reported. Protea.
Farage said he “can’t be bought,” referring to what he described as an undisclosed amount of “money” from Elon Musk to make public statements, which he said he rejected.
A change in Farage’s explanation was made later The Guardian he said he made a $1.9 million purchase shortly after receiving the gift, citing documents he reviewed. Reform UK said the giving and buying process began before the gift, and that Farage had already provided proof of income and other checks before receiving the money.
Asked for comment, the Commissioner for Parliamentary Standards in the UK said Decrypt it publishes the names of the MPs under investigation along with a summary of the laws they are suspected of breaking.
Farage’s question is registered and the Legislature if the fifth law investigates the “failure to register interest,” without the publication.
Under the Commons lawsnew members must register financial interests and any registered benefits received in the 12 months prior to their election within one month, Decrypt he was told.
Decrypt has reached out to Farage and Harborne for comment. This article will be updated when they respond.
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