Nigel Farage’s Reform UK Gets $97M From Crypto Billionaires, Including Trump-Pardoned Exec

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has received $97 million from two crypto billionaires, with BitMEX co-founder Ben Delo giving £36 million ($48.7 million) on Friday and investor Christopher Harborne matching the amount on Saturday. Delo, who pleaded guilty in the US in 2022 to violating the Bank Secrecy Act over BitMEX’s anti-money-laundering controls, was pardoned by President Donald Trump in March 2025.

Delo’s gift was the largest single donation to a UK political party on record. The combined £72 million ($97.4 million) also exceeds the £54 million ($73.1 million) spent by Labour and the Conservatives on their respective party campaigns at the 2024 general election, based on Electoral Commission figures of £30.1 million ($40.9 million) and £23.9 million ($32.5 million).

Harborne said Delo told him about the planned donation and that a competitive streak led him to match it. Harborne had already become Reform’s biggest previous donor, including a £9 million ($12.2 million) contribution in 2025, while Delo had given about £8 million ($10.8 million) to the party before the latest contribution.

Farage said the money would help Reform prepare for government and compete at the next general election, which must be held by 2029. Reform has said the funding will support its policy operation and the campaign infrastructure needed to fight the election, giving the party a large financial base well ahead of polling day.

Delo Moved Up His Planned Giving

Delo had planned to give Reform £1 million ($1.4 million) a month through the next election, but brought the money forward as Parliament considered tighter rules on political donations. He moved back to the UK from Hong Kong this year as ministers pursued restrictions on donations from overseas electors.

The Representation of the People Bill is now before the House of Lords. It includes a proposed £100,000 ($136,000) annual cap on donations from overseas electors and a measure that would halt cryptocurrency donations, with the restriction intended to last until Parliament and the Electoral Commission are satisfied the rules are robust enough. The changes are not yet law.

Delo said he paid the £36 million ($48.7 million) up front so the planned monthly support could not be blocked before the next election. Separately, his return to Britain came as the government pursued tighter rules on overseas political funding. The two latest donations were not reported as cryptocurrency transfers.

Reform Has Made Crypto Part Of Its Platform

The donations come as Reform has made cryptocurrency part of its political platform. The party has backed a proposed Bitcoin reserve as part of the UK’s official reserves, called for crypto capital-gains tax to be cut to 10%, and became the first major UK party to say it would accept Bitcoin donations.

Harborne has said he expects nothing in return for his support, including no policy change or peerage. There is no evidence in the reporting that either donor received a specific policy concession in exchange for the latest gifts.

The Cash Lands Amid Separate Funding Probes

The record contributions arrive while Reform faces separate scrutiny over political funding. The Metropolitan Police is investigating allegations concerning foreign donations following a Channel 4 undercover report in which senior Reform figures were allegedly shown discussing ways a purported US donor could fund the party or pay for polling. Reform denies wrongdoing. Two senior aides later stepped down or were suspended pending investigation.

Harborne is also the source of a £5 million ($6.8 million) personal gift to Farage in 2024 that is before Parliament’s standards watchdog. The inquiry concerns whether the gift was properly declared; Farage and Reform deny wrongdoing.

The latest donations put £72 million ($97.4 million) into Reform before Parliament has finished deciding how political funding should be regulated. Private money has moved first. The rules are still being written.