Tether Billionaire Enters UK's Richest Folks Listing Amid Farage Reward Inquiry – Decrypt

Christopher Harborne, a serious investor in stablecoin issuer Tether and monetary backer of Reform UK chief Nigel Farage, was named one of many UK’s richest folks as Farage faces a parliamentary requirements inquiry over a reported $6.7 million (£5 million) reward from the crypto billionaire.

The Sunday Occasions launched its annual Wealthy Listing on Friday, rating Harborne sixth within the UK with an estimated fortune of about $24.4 billion (£18.2 billion).

Most of Harborne’s wealth reportedly comes from a 12% stake in Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin, which has been valued at about $200 billion. Tether reported $1.04 billion in first-quarter revenue this 12 months, with a reserve buffer of $8.23 billion and almost $192 billion in reserve belongings.

Harborne’s legal professionals have mentioned he holds stakes at Tether and its sister firm Bitfinex, however has no operational position in both.

The rating makes Harborne the richest particular person within the North of England and Yorkshire, with a fortune bigger than the remainder of Yorkshire’s prime 10 mixed, per the Sunday Occasions. He was additionally listed because the wealthiest British-born particular person on the 2026 listing, although he has lived in Thailand for over 20 years and holds Thai citizenship below the title Chakrit Sakunkrit.

A ‘reward’ for Brexit?

Harborne has emerged as a serious monetary backer of Nigel Farage, the Reform UK chief and member of Parliament for Clacton.

He has donated about $16.1 million to Reform UK, together with a roughly $12.1 million contribution late final 12 months that was described as the most important single political donation from a dwelling particular person in British historical past.

On Thursday, the UK’s Parliamentary Requirements Commissioner opened an investigation into whether or not Farage ought to have declared Harborne’s reported $6.7 million reward, which was made earlier than the Reform UK chief stood within the 2024 basic election.

Farage earlier claimed the reward was an “unconditional, non-political, private reward” meant to fund his safety, including that he was below “no obligation” to report it.

In an interview with The Solar Thursday, Farage claimed the cash was given on an “unconditional foundation” and was “a reward for campaigning for Brexit for 27 years,” as quoted by Protos.

Farage argued that he “can’t be purchased,” citing what he described as an undisclosed provide of a “load of cash” from Elon Musk to say sure issues publicly, which he claimed he refused.

Modifications in Farage’s rationalization got here after The Guardian reported that he purchased a roughly $1.9 million property in money shortly after receiving the reward, citing paperwork it had reviewed. Reform UK mentioned the provide and buy course of started earlier than the reward, and that Farage had already handed proof-of-funds and different checks earlier than receiving the cash.

When requested for remark, the UK’s Parliamentary Requirements Commissioner advised Decrypt it publishes the names of MPs below investigation alongside transient particulars of the Code of Conduct provisions they’re alleged to have breached.

Farage’s inquiry is listed by Parliament as an energetic Rule 5 investigation for “failure to register an curiosity,” with no discovering printed but.

Below Commons guidelines, new MPs should register present monetary pursuits and any registrable advantages obtained within the 12 months earlier than their election inside one month, Decrypt was advised.

Decrypt has reached out to Farage and Harborne for remark. This text might be up to date ought to they reply.