TLDR Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne contributed £36 million each to Reform UK in consecutive days, reaching a combined £72 million ($97 million) These back-to-back contributions represent
In an unprecedented show of financial support, two cryptocurrency industry billionaires contributed £72 million ($97 million) to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party during a consecutive 24-hour period, establishing an all-time high for individual political contributions in Britain.
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Two crypto entrepreneurs donated a combined £72 MILLION to Reform UK, the right-wing British political party led by Nigel Farage, per BBC.
Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne each gave a record £36 MILLION. Harborne had already donated £9 MILLION in August.
Delo said he… pic.twitter.com/8SgMgiZOjd
— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) September 13, 2026
On Friday, Ben Delo, who co-established the BitMEX digital currency trading platform, transferred £36 million to the party. Christopher Harborne, whose portfolio includes stakes in Bitfinex and stablecoin provider Tether, duplicated this amount the next day.
Combined, these contributions mark the most substantial financial backing ever received by a political organization in the United Kingdom.
In a statement to The Telegraph, Harborne explained that Delo’s donation motivated his matching contribution. “No peerage, no policy change, just a party that is ready for government,” he stated.
Delo positioned his contribution as an investment in democratic competition. He explained the £36 million equated to £1 million monthly support through the 2029 general election, though he transferred the entire sum immediately to circumvent potential regulatory obstacles.
Responding to the financial boost, Farage expressed appreciation, noting the funds would enable Reform to compete equally in the upcoming electoral cycle.
These weren’t inaugural contributions from either benefactor. Harborne previously provided £9 million in August 2025, followed by additional transfers in early 2026. Delo similarly contributed during the opening quarter of 2026.
Electoral Commission data reveals that Harborne and Delo collectively represented approximately 76% of Reform’s documented first-quarter 2026 donations, excluding governmental funding.
Harborne’s December 2025 contribution of £12 million temporarily held the distinction of being Britain’s largest single donation from a living individual to any political party. His recent gift quadruples that figure.
Farage has deliberately cultivated relationships within the cryptocurrency sector. During a Bitcoin gathering in Las Vegas in May 2025, he announced intentions to establish a Bitcoin reserve at the Bank of England, implement a 10% capital gains tax on digital assets, and prevent financial institutions from terminating accounts based on cryptocurrency involvement.
These massive contributions emerge amid intensifying regulatory and investigative attention.
Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation into allegations surrounding Reform’s fundraising practices. Additionally, a parliamentary standards committee is examining a £5 million personal transfer from Harborne to Farage before his 2024 parliamentary election. Farage and Reform categorically reject any impropriety.
In July, Farage stepped down from his parliamentary seat citing what he termed a cryptocurrency-related controversy, though he subsequently reclaimed the position in a by-election with 63% voter support.
Government officials unveiled proposals in March targeting cryptocurrency political donations, including an outright prohibition on digital currency contributions and a £100,000 annual ceiling on overseas donations. Labour representatives have subsequently explored making these restrictions permanent.
Delo carries his own regulatory background in America. As one of three BitMEX co-founders, he entered a guilty plea for Bank Secrecy Act violations. In 2022, he accepted a $10 million penalty, though President Donald Trump issued a pardon in March 2025.
The Electoral Commission has verified that no British political organization has formally disclosed receiving donations in the form of cryptocurrency assets.
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