Politics
Reform UK accepts record £36m donation from crypto billionaire
September 12, 2026 at 05:59 AM · Updated 34d ago
Coverage
5 reports · over 17 hours
TGThe Guardian
Donations of £72m make Reform’s prospects both rosier and riskier
(opens the publisher’s site)
TGThe Guardian
Christopher Harborne matches £36m Reform donation of Ben Delo
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
Reform receives second £36m donation in two days as crypto investor matches record
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
Reform receives record £36m donation from cryptocurrency billionaire
(opens the publisher’s site)
TGThe Guardian
Reform UK given record £36m donation by British crypto billionaire
(opens the publisher’s site)Reform UK has received a £36m donation from cryptocurrency billionaire Ben Delo, the largest single donation ever made to a UK political party.
- Delo said he would donate £1m a month until 2029 but paid the full £36m up front in case the government moves to cap mega-donations.
- Delo, convicted in the US in 2022 for anti-money-laundering failings at BitMEX and later pardoned by Donald Trump, said he wanted a "fair fight and a level playing field".
- The Metropolitan Police is investigating whether donations to Reform complied with UK funding laws.
- The Liberal Democrats' Lisa Smart said Farage was "buying his way into power" and called for a cap on political donations.
Latest developments
- Sep 12 — Reform UK has received a second £36m donation in two days, from cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne, who said his 'competitive spirit' inspired him to match Ben Delo's record gift.
- Sep 12 — The two donations total £72m, exceeding the amount received by all UK political parties combined last year.
- Sep 12 — Reform leader Nigel Farage said he was 'honoured and humbled' by the record donations.
- Sep 12 — A parliamentary standards investigation is examining a separate £5m gift from Harborne made before Farage became an MP in 2024.
- Sep 12 — Harborne said he expects nothing in return, ruling out a peerage or policy changes, and wants to back a party he believes can win the next election.