Reform UK receives record £36m donation from Ben Delo
The donation makes the cryptocurrency billionaire the UK’s biggest political donor as Reform faces scrutiny over overseas funding and calls grow for limits on mega-donations.
Reform UK has received a record £36 million donation from British cryptocurrency billionaire Ben Delo, making him the UK’s largest political donor by a substantial margin, according to The Guardian.
Delo has also given the party £8 million since the start of 2026. His contribution exceeds the £15 million previously donated to Reform by Thailand-based businessman Christopher Harborne.
The donation comes as Reform faces a police investigation into overseas funding and a standards inquiry concerning an alleged undeclared £5 million personal gift from Harborne. Delo has moved back to the UK from Hong Kong, but questions remain over whether he meets rules requiring major donors to have been UK-resident for 12 months.
Reform has said it is confident Delo would not have to return any funds. The supplied reporting does not establish the final legal status of his eligibility.
Delo was convicted in the United States in 2022 over inadequate anti-money-laundering controls at his cryptocurrency business, BitMEX, and was later pardoned by Donald Trump. Reform leader Nigel Farage welcomed the donation, saying Delo had shown confidence in the party.
The scale of the contribution has renewed debate over the role of wealthy individual donors in British politics. Labour MP Stella Creasy called for a cap on political donations, while the government has said it is examining ways to address the influence of mega-donors.
