BitMEX Co-Founders Pour $97M Into Farage's Reform UK in Record Crypto Donations

Nigel Farage's Reform UK party has received 72 million pounds (approximately $97 million) from two cryptocurrency billionaires, marking one of the largest political donations in British history. BitMEX co-founder Ben Delo announced a 36 million pound contribution on Friday, with Christopher Harborne matching the amount the following day. Harborne also donated an additional 9 million pounds to Reform UK back in August 2025, deepening his financial ties to the party. Both donations are jointly the largest ever made to a British political party.

Writing in The Telegraph, Harborne said Delo's contribution had inspired him to match it, adding he expected nothing in return: "No peerage, no policy change, just a party that is ready for government." Delo, who co-founded the BitMEX cryptocurrency exchange, said the funds were intended to ensure a "fair fight" at the polls. He noted that the donation represented 1 million pounds per month until a general election in 2029, but he paid the full amount upfront to prevent it from being blocked. Farage welcomed both contributions, stating the funding would allow Reform to contest the next general election on "a level playing field."

The donations have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers concerned about the influence of digital assets on UK politics. Cointelegraph previously reported that Farage was under investigation after receiving millions of pounds in donations and gifts from figures tied to the crypto industry, including Harborne and George Cottrell. Farage has denied any wrongdoing. In July, Labour MPs were reportedly pushing to make a moratorium on crypto donations announced in March a permanent measure, citing concerns over transparency. Separately, Delo was one of three BitMEX co-founders who pleaded guilty to federal charges in the US related to Bank Secrecy Act violations, paying a $10 million fine in 2022 without serving prison time before later receiving a presidential pardon.