Ben Delo, the co-founder of the BitMEX cryptocurrency exchange, has transferred £36 million, equivalent to approximately $49 million, to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party. This transaction marks the largest single donation ever recorded for a political party in the United Kingdom.
According to reports, the donation was intended to cover a period of one million pounds per month until the 2029 general election. Delo opted to provide the full amount as an upfront payment to ensure the funds reached the party without potential future interference or blocks.
Delo previously served as the second-largest donor to the party, following Christopher Harborne, who contributed £9 million in August 2025. These financial ties have prompted discussions among UK lawmakers regarding the potential influence of digital assets on national politics.
In 2022, Delo agreed to pay a $10 million fine following federal charges in the United States related to violations of the Bank Secrecy Act. In March 2025, he and his co-founders, Arthur Hayes and Samuel Reed, received a pardon from US President Donald Trump.
