Crypto08 April, 20262 min read
BitMEX Co-Founder Ben Delo Donates £4 Million to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK
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BitMEX co-founder Ben Delo donated £4 million to Reform UK this year. He moved back to Britain from Hong Kong to donate millions more.
Crypto Donation
Ben Delo publicly disclosed a £4 million donation to Reform UK.
It was not specified whether the contribution was made in fiat currency or cryptocurrency.
Delo expressed support for a proposed U.K. government moratorium on political donations made in cryptoassets.
The U.K. Electoral Commission's guidance states that crypto donations are currently not prohibited.
The government announced an immediate moratorium on crypto donations as part of a broader crackdown on foreign interference.
Reform UK has also recently received a £9 million donation from crypto investor Christopher Harborne.
Political Strategy
Delo announced plans to move back to the UK to circumvent the donation cap. Reform UK has been heavily reliant on Christopher Harborne. Delo was convicted in the US in 2022 but was pardoned by Donald Trump in March 2025.
Delo described his conviction as a regulatory failing that isn't a crime in the UK. Reform is hoping for projected historic gains in the May local elections.
Political Hub
Delo funds a political hub known as The Sanctuary near Westminster Abbey. The facility offers event space, office facilities, and podcast studios free of charge. Among the beneficiaries is Rupert Lowe, leader of Restore Britain.
The Sanctuary takes care to keep its operations discreet. Delo supports more than 50 projects across the political spectrum. Some of the projects had expressed hardline positions on immigration, nationalism, and abortion.
Crypto and Politics
Delo's donation represents the most direct foray of crypto wealth into British party politics. The move raises questions about how crypto fortunes are being deployed to influence democratic processes. Crypto executives in the United States have already spent heavily to influence elections.
The UK’s moratorium on crypto donations suggests that Labour is alert to the risk. Further restrictions on how digital asset wealth enters the political system are a reasonable expectation. Delo has every legal right to participate in British politics.
