Reform UK Receives Record $97M in Crypto Donations from BitMEX Co-Founder, Harborne

Nigel Farage's Reform UK party has received a combined £72 million ($97 million) from two cryptocurrency billionaires, marking the largest donations ever made to a British political party. BitMEX co-founder Ben Delo announced a £36 million contribution on Friday, with Christopher Harborne, a fintech entrepreneur and aviation fuel mogul, matching the donation the following day. Harborne stated in The Telegraph that Delo had inspired him to contribute, adding: "No peerage, no policy change, just a party that is ready for government."

The donations come amid heightened scrutiny of crypto money in British politics. Farage resigned from Parliament in July following revelations of gifts and contributions from Harborne and George Cottrell, both linked to the digital assets industry. He won the subsequent by-election with 63% of the vote. In response to the scandal, Labour MPs are reportedly pushing to make a March moratorium on crypto political donations permanent. Farage has denied any wrongdoing.

Delo, who pleaded guilty in 2022 to U.S. Bank Secrecy Act violations alongside fellow BitMEX co-founders Arthur Hayes and Samuel Reed, paid a $10 million fine but avoided prison time. He was later pardoned by President Trump. Delo said his donation would ensure a "fair fight" at the polls, front-loading the full amount to prevent it from being blocked by pending legislation. Farage welcomed the funding, stating it would allow Reform to compete on "a level playing field" ahead of the next general election in 2029. The contributions underscore the growing intersection of digital asset wealth and political influence in the UK.