Reform UK has received a combined £72 million ($97 million) from cryptocurrency billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, making the contributions jointly the largest donations ever reported for a British political party.
Delo, the co-founder of crypto exchange BitMEX, announced a £36 million contribution before Harborne declared an equal donation the following day. Harborne had already given Reform £9 million in August 2025.
Donors Say They Expect Nothing in Return
Writing in The Telegraph, Harborne said Delo’s contribution had prompted him to match it. He said he expected “no peerage, no policy exchange,” describing his support as a contribution to a party he believed was seeking government.
Delo said his donation was intended to help Reform UK fight what he called a “fair war” at the polls. He told The Telegraph that the £36 million represented £1 million per month until a legally required election in 2029, but that he paid the amount upfront to prevent the funding from being blocked.
Reform leader Nigel Farage welcomed the donations, saying they would allow the party to compete in the next general election “on a level playing field.”
Funding Draws Political Scrutiny
The donations come as Farage and Reform face questions over financial ties to figures in the crypto industry. Farage has been under investigation after receiving millions of dollars’ worth of donations and gifts from Harborne and George Cottrell, allegations he has denied.
Farage resigned his parliamentary seat in July amid the controversy, triggering a by-election that he won with 63% of the vote against the satirical candidate Count Binface.
The episode has also renewed debate among UK lawmakers about cryptocurrency-linked political funding. Labour MPs were reportedly considering making permanent a moratorium on crypto donations introduced in March while policymakers review the rules.
Delo Previously Pleaded Guilty in the US
Delo was one of three BitMEX co-founders who pleaded guilty in the United States to charges involving violations of the Bank Secrecy Act. He agreed to pay a $10 million fine in 2022 and did not serve a prison sentence.
In March 2025, Delo, Arthur Hayes and Samuel Reed received pardons from US President Donald Trump.
