Reform UK Secures 97 Million Dollars in Crypto Funding

Reform UK received 97 million dollars in donations from two cryptocurrency billionaires. The total equals 72 million pounds. Christopher Harborne matched a record gift from Ben Delo. Harborne contributed 36 million pounds on Saturday. This followed Delo’s announcement on Friday. These are the largest donations ever to a British political party.

Harborne also gave 9 million pounds in August 2025. He stated in The Telegraph that Delo inspired him to match the gift. He expects no political favor in return. He wants a party ready for government. Delo said he donated to ensure a fair fight at the polls.

Payment strategy and election goals

Delo co-founded the BitMEX exchange. He described the 36 million pound gift as one million pounds per month. This covers the period until the 2029 general election. He paid the full amount upfront. He did this to prevent the payment from being blocked.

Nigel Farage welcomed both contributions. He said the funding allows Reform to contest the next election. He aims for a level playing field. The party will use the funds for its campaign.

Political scrutiny and legal history

Cointelegraph reported Farage is under investigation. This follows donations from Harborne and George Cottrell. Farage denies any wrongdoing. He resigned his parliamentary seat in July. This triggered a by-election. He won with 63 percent of the vote.

Lawmakers question the influence of digital assets on UK politics. Labour MPs considered making a crypto donation moratorium permanent. This was in response to gifts from industry figures. Delo pleaded guilty to US federal charges. He paid a 10 million dollar fine in 2022.

Delo did not serve prison time. He received a presidential pardon in March 2025. Arthur Hayes and Samuel Reed also received pardons. GN markets/crypto (en-US) noted this legal context. The donations remain a focal point of political debate.