Farage’s Reform UK gets biggest donation ever from crypto billionaire: Reports

cointelegraphPublicado em 2026-09-12Última atualização em 2026-09-12

Resumo

Crypto billionaire Ben Delo has donated £36 million ($49 million) to Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, marking the largest single donation ever made to a British political party, according to reports. Delo, co-founder of the BitMEX cryptocurrency exchange, stated the contribution was to ensure a "fair fight" at the polls. This surpasses the previous largest donation to Reform from billionaire Christopher Harborne. The substantial donation comes amid ongoing scrutiny of crypto-linked funding in UK politics. Farage was recently investigated for receiving donations and gifts from figures tied to the crypto industry, including Harborne and George Cottrell, a scandal that led to his resignation as an MP in July. Following his resignation, Farage won a subsequent by-election. In response to these events, Labour MPs are reportedly considering making a temporary moratorium on crypto donations permanent. The Telegraph reported that Delo's £36 million donation, intended as £1 million per month until the 2029 general election, was paid upfront to prevent it from being blocked. Delo was previously among BitMEX co-founders who pleaded guilty to U.S. charges related to violating the Bank Secrecy Act. While he paid a $10 million fine in 2022, he avoided prison time and received a pardon from former U.S. President Donald Trump in March 2025.

Ben Delo, a British crypto billionaire, gave 36 million pounds ($49 million) to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in the biggest donation ever made to a British political party, the DPA and other media reported on Saturday.

Delo, who co-founded the BitMEX cryptocurrency exchange, said he had given the money to ensure a “fair fight” at the polls.

Farage said: “I am honored and humbled that Ben Delo has shown such confidence in Reform. ... Ben knows that we are the only party that can turn the country around and reverse Britain’s decline.”

Delo was previously the second-biggest donor to Reform UK behind billionaire Christopher Harborne, who gave 9 million pounds to the party last August.

Cointelegraph reported last month that Farage was under investigation after receiving millions of dollars’ worth of donations and gifts from two figures tied to the crypto industry: Harborne and George Cottrell.

Related: UK politicians mull permanent crypto donation ban in wake of Nigel Farage scandal

The UK lawmaker resigned his position as a member of Parliament in July amid the crypto scandal, triggering a controversial by-election that Farage won with 63% of the vote, ahead of satirical candidate Count Binface.

The contributions tied to the crypto industry have raised questions from many lawmakers about the influence of digital assets on UK politics.

In July, Labour MPs were reportedly considering that a moratorium on crypto donations announced in March, pending legislation, be made permanent in response to what Farage called “gifts” from Harborne and Cottrell.

The Telegraph newspaper said the 36 million pound donation represented 1 million pounds each month until a general election in 2029, but Delo made the entire payment up front to prevent it from being blocked.

Cointelegraph previously reported that Delo was one of three BitMEX co-founders who pleaded guilty to federal charges in the US related to violations of the Bank Secrecy Act.

While he agreed to pay a $10 million fine in 2022, Delo did not serve time in prison. He and his colleagues Arthur Hayes and Samuel Reed received a pardon from US President Donald Trump in March 2025.

Magazine: Trading stocks against BONER is the latest trend for DeFi degens

Perguntas relacionadas

QWhat is the reported amount and source of the largest donation ever made to a British political party, according to the article?

AThe largest donation ever made to a British political party is reported to be 36 million pounds ($49 million) from British crypto billionaire Ben Delo, co-founder of the BitMEX cryptocurrency exchange, to Nigel Farage's Reform UK.

QWhy did Ben Delo state he made the large donation to Reform UK?

ABen Delo stated he gave the money to ensure a 'fair fight' at the polls.

QWhat previous legal issues did Ben Delo face in the United States, as mentioned in the article?

ABen Delo was one of three BitMEX co-founders who 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, and he received a pardon from US President Donald Trump in March 2025.

QHow have contributions from the crypto industry affected the political discourse in the UK, based on the article?

AContributions tied to the crypto industry have raised questions from many lawmakers about the influence of digital assets on UK politics. In response, Labour MPs were reportedly considering making a temporary moratorium on crypto donations permanent.

QWhat was the reported reason for Ben Delo making the entire 36 million pound donation upfront, rather than in installments?

AAccording to The Telegraph newspaper, Delo made the entire payment upfront to prevent it from being blocked. The donation was structured as 1 million pounds per month until a general election in 2029.

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