# Reform UK councillor promoted collapsed $1.9bn ‘Ponzi scheme’ HyperVerse, leaving victims suicidal

https://mins.news/en/item/133526

- The Guardian, 2026-11-07 07:00 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/nov/07/reform-uk-councillor-promoted-alleged-ponzi-scheme-hyperverse

> Susan Lawrence, a former key UK promoter of the HyperVerse crypto scheme, now serves on Wolverhampton city council’s audit and risk committee. US court documents described HyperVerse as an alleged pyramid and Ponzi scheme that cost investors worldwide about $1.89bn. Authorities have not accused Lawrence of wrongdoing; Reform UK says she was also a victim and lost her pension and tens of thousands of pounds.