BitMEX co-founder Ben Delo and investor Christopher Harborne have donated a combined £72 million to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK over two days, according to the party, in one of the largest crypto-linked political funding developments in the UK.

Delo announced a £36 million donation, described in the report as the largest single donation to a British political party. He also said he intends to contribute £1 million a month until the latest possible election date in 2029. Harborne then matched Delo’s contribution with another £36 million, citing competitive spirit.

Reform UK said the money would help it hire senior policy specialists and campaign managers and that the party is now operating on an election footing. The report said the combined total surpassed the amount raised by all British political parties last year.

Both donations were made in cash. The report said that followed a UK move in March to ban crypto political donations, making it important to distinguish between crypto-linked donors and donations made directly in digital assets.

Different sources describe the matter differently, and the relevant details still require official confirmation.

The broader backdrop remains politically sensitive. The report said Reform UK is under criminal investigation related to its funding, while the Metropolitan Police has opened an inquiry into allegations of circumventing foreign donation bans. It also said neither Delo’s nor Harborne’s latest donations is under scrutiny. Delo, who has faced scrutiny over past legal issues, is also planning to return from Hong Kong, according to the report.

Why It Matters

The episode puts crypto wealth closer to the center of UK political finance at a time when rules around donation structure, donor eligibility, and foreign influence are already under pressure. Even when digital assets are not used directly, large donations from crypto-linked figures could sharpen calls for stricter oversight of how political parties verify funds and donors.

For the crypto industry, the significance is less about immediate market impact than about policy exposure. High-profile political involvement by crypto billionaires can shape how regulators, lawmakers, and the public frame the sector, especially when compliance, transparency, and cross-border funding are part of the same conversation.