Farage’s Reform UK Secures Record £72M Donation from Two Crypto Billionaires
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has received a record-breaking £72 million (approximately $97 million) from two cryptocurrency billionaires, Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne. Harborne announced a £36 million donation matching Delo’s earlier contribution of the same amount. These combined donations represent the largest ever made to a British political party and have sparked scrutiny over the crypto industry's impact on UK politics.
Record Donations from Crypto Billionaires
In September 2026, Christopher Harborne announced a £36 million donation to Reform UK, matching an earlier £36 million contribution from Ben Delo, co-founder of the BitMEX cryptocurrency exchange. Combined, these donations total £72 million, marking the largest political donations ever made to a British party. Harborne had previously donated £9 million to the party in August 2025.
According to Harborne’s statement in The Telegraph, he was inspired by Delo’s contribution and expects nothing in return such as peerages or policy changes, only support for a party ready to govern. Delo explained that his donation aimed to ensure a "fair fight" in upcoming elections. Although he originally planned to donate £1 million monthly until 2029, he paid the full amount upfront to avoid potential blocking.
Farage’s Response and the Importance of the Funding
Nigel Farage welcomed both donations, emphasizing that the funding would enable Reform UK to compete on a level playing field during forthcoming general elections against major political rivals.
Investigation and Controversy Surrounding Crypto Donations
In July 2026, Cointelegraph reported that Farage was under investigation after receiving substantial donations and gifts from two figures linked to the crypto industry — Christopher Harborne and George Cottrell. Farage has denied any wrongdoing.
That same month, Farage resigned as a Member of Parliament amid the crypto funding scandal, triggering a controversial by-election which he won with 63% of the vote, defeating satirical candidate Count Binface.
Crypto-related contributions have raised concerns among lawmakers. Labour MPs have reportedly considered making a moratorium on crypto donations, introduced in March pending legislation, permanent in response to the gifts from Harborne and Cottrell.
Delo’s Conviction and Presidential Pardon
Previously, it was reported that Ben Delo, along with two other BitMEX co-founders, pleaded guilty to federal charges in the US related to violations of the Bank Secrecy Act. He agreed to pay a $10 million fine in 2022 but did not serve prison time.
In March 2025, Delo and his colleagues Arthur Hayes and Samuel Reed received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump.
Why it matters
The news highlights the growing influence of cryptocurrency investors on the UK political landscape. The largest donations in UK history made to Reform UK by two crypto billionaires raise critical questions about transparency and regulation in campaign financing. It underscores both the opportunities and potential risks of integrating digital assets into the political system, sparking public and legislative debates regarding the role of cryptocurrencies in democracy and the need for oversight on such influences.
Prepared from the source material with AI-assisted editing and checked against the supplied facts.
Open original source ↗