DAVOS, Switzerland—Nigel Farage, the firebrand leader of Reform UK, arrived at the World Economic Forum this week not as a critic from afar but as a provocateur ready to upend Britain’s economic foundations. In a candid interview at Bloomberg House, Mr. Farage declared his intent to challenge ‘every single tenet’ of the U.K.’s economic policy if his party seizes power in the next election, dismissing fears of market turmoil. Speaking with Bloomberg’s Stephanie Flanders, he targeted the Bank of England’s independence and regulatory inertia on cryptocurrencies, framing Brexit as a squandered chance for radical reform.

“Given what a catastrophe UK economic policy has been over the last 15 years, I think we should challenge every single tenet of it,” Mr. Farage said (Bloomberg Television). His remarks, delivered amid snow-swept Alpine peaks, signal Reform UK’s aggressive pivot toward financial deregulation, a stance fueled by recent crypto donations and Mr. Farage’s vocal advocacy for digital assets.

Mr. Farage’s presence in Davos marks a departure from his past condemnations of the event as a ‘globalist’ gathering. Posts on X from his account underscore his mission: “I’m here in Davos to put the global elites on notice. We will not live by their agenda. Change is coming to Britain,” he wrote on January 21 (X).

Brexit’s Unfulfilled Promise

Central to Mr. Farage’s critique is Brexit, which he argues was mishandled from the start. “We vote Brexit. Now, if you vote Brexit, use it as an opportunity to do things differently. And the trouble is, from day one, the Conservative government viewed it as a damage limitation exercise,” he told Bloomberg. He lambasted the appointment of Andrew Bailey as Bank of England governor, suggesting a ‘Brexiteer’ should have been chosen to rethink financial regulation.

The governor’s term ends in early 2028, aligning with a potential election timeline. Mr. Farage questioned whether a new appointee would serve a full term under a Reform government, hinting at deeper structural shifts without explicitly ending independence. Recent news bolsters his case: On January 22, Mr. Farage renewed pledges to scrap interest payments from the Bank to commercial banks, a move aimed at taxing lenders amid soaring debt costs (Business Magazine).

Reform UK’s economic vision, detailed in policy papers, includes a ‘Great British Tax Cut’ to address debt interest rivaling education spending, as Mr. Farage highlighted in a June 2024 post (X). This fiscal hawkishness pairs with pro-innovation rhetoric, positioning the party as a disruptor.

Bank of England in the Crosshairs

Mr. Farage’s skepticism toward the Bank’s focus on inflation over growth echoes broader debates. “They shouldn’t have been focused on inflation,” he argued, advocating a shift toward financial market dynamism. A parliamentary standards probe recently found he failed to declare 17 payments on time, including from Google and X Corp., adding to scrutiny but not derailing his momentum (Reuters).

The Bank’s recent stablecoin proposals irk him most. Governor Bailey suggested limits on individual holdings, which Mr. Farage called a ‘poison pill’ for Britain’s finance sector in a November 2025 X post: “The Bank of England’s cap on stablecoin ownership is a poison pill for Britain’s financial sector” (X). This stance aligns with Reform’s Cryptoassets and Digital Finance Bill, unveiled in May 2025, pushing for 21st-century economic tools (X).

Independence remains a ‘stable pillar’ of U.K. policy for two decades, yet Mr. Farage envisions a ‘new, more innovative approach’ without outright abolition. His Davos pitch to meet figures like Donald Trump on Greenland talks underscores global ambitions (The Guardian).

Crypto as Reform’s Financial Backbone

Reform’s crypto embrace is no side issue—it’s funded by it. Crypto investor Christopher Harborne donated a record £9 million in December 2025, exceeding Tory hauls and prompting calls for probes into overseas ties (The Guardian). Mr. Farage promoted Harborne-linked Tether weeks prior, amid reports of Iran’s central bank using the stablecoin to evade sanctions (The Guardian).

“One-in-four 18 to 34 year olds own crypto. Reform will take them seriously,” Mr. Farage said at Bitcoin Conference in May 2025 (X). The party pioneered crypto donations, now facing a potential U.K. ban (Politico). FCA resistance, he claims, leaves Britain lagging global peers.

Opposition grows: Labour and Lib Dems urge Electoral Commission scrutiny of Reform’s crypto links (The Independent). Yet Mr. Farage insists donors seek no favors, betting youth enthusiasm propels Reform past traditional parties.

FCA and Regulatory Overhaul

The Financial Conduct Authority draws Mr. Farage’s ire for ignoring crypto trading. “Take the whole world of cryptocurrencies and crypto trading. We are just lagging so far behind many other parts of the world and yet the FCA don’t want to know frankly,” he told Bloomberg. Reform’s bill targets this, proposing lighter-touch rules post-Brexit.

Bank-FCA tensions mirror global rifts, with Mr. Farage warning against central bank digital currencies: “Central Bank Digital Currencies will give the state total control over our lives. This must be resisted” (X, February 2023). His Davos appearance, first despite past barbs, aims to woo investors (Bloomberg).

Market reactions loom large. Scrapping Bank interest payments could save billions but risks confidence erosion, per critics. Mr. Farage counters with growth imperatives, eyeing May 7 defection deadline to swell Reform ranks (X).

Global Echoes and Domestic Stakes

Mr. Farage’s Davos rhetoric resonates amid U.S. tariff threats: “These tariffs will hurt us,” he posted on X (X). On Greenland, he mused the world would improve under U.S. control, aligning strategically with Trump (The Guardian).

Reform’s surge—fueled by ‘Britain is broken’ messaging—challenges Labour’s hold (X). Payments scandals, including £91,200 from a gold dealer, fuel attacks but Mr. Farage presses on (Evening Standard).

Stakeholders watch closely: Banks brace for tax hikes, crypto firms eye deregulation, voters weigh innovation against stability. Mr. Farage’s Davos foray positions Reform as the insurgency ready to rewrite U.K. finance rules.