Who Are Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne? Crypto Billionaires Behind Reform UK's Record £72m Haul

Reform UK says it has received £72 million ($97 million) from two British cryptocurrency billionaires, giving Nigel Farage's party a substantial financial boost ahead of future elections.

Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne each contributed £36 million within two days. Delo's payment became the largest single donation to a British political party before Harborne matched it the following day.

The haul has renewed debate about political donation limits and restrictions affecting donors who live overseas or have recently returned to Britain. Reform maintains that both contributions comply with the rules. No authority has publicly declared either donation unlawful.

Who Is Ben Delo?

Delo is a British mathematician, programmer and cryptocurrency entrepreneur who co-founded the digital-asset derivatives exchange BitMEX in 2014.

An Oxford graduate, he previously worked as a software engineer and developed high-frequency trading systems before entering cryptocurrency.

In February 2022, Delo pleaded guilty in the United States to violating the Bank Secrecy Act by wilfully failing to establish and maintain an anti-money-laundering programme at BitMEX.

He agreed to pay a $10 million (£7.4 million) criminal fine and was later sentenced to 30 months' probation. On 27 March 2025, President Donald Trump pardoned Delo and other BitMEX executives, according to the US Justice Department's official clemency register.

Delo had supported Reform before his latest contribution. He has framed his political giving as an effort to provide the party with enough resources to compete with Britain's established parties.

Who Is Christopher Harborne?

Harborne is a British businessman and technology investor who has backed blockchain research and political causes. He financed a blockchain research fund at INSEAD, the international business school.

He has been a longstanding supporter of Farage's political organisations, including Reform UK and its predecessor, the Brexit Party. Electoral Commission records show that Harborne previously donated to the Conservative Party before becoming a major Reform backer.

His latest £36 million ($49 million) payment matched Delo's record and brought the combined total to £72 million ($97 million). Harborne has described the contribution as a philanthropic gift to the country.

Are the £72 Million Donations Legal?

British law does not currently impose a universal limit on how much a permissible donor can give to a political party. Individuals can generally donate if they are registered on a UK electoral register, including as eligible overseas electors.

Electoral Commission rules require parties to verify donors and report qualifying contributions. However, Parliament is considering legislation that would cap donations from overseas electors at £100,000 ($135,000) per year. The Electoral Commission says no changes have yet been made to the law.

The proposals would also cover certain people returning to the UK after living abroad, keeping them subject to the cap until they have been back for a full calendar year. The Government intends the restrictions to apply retrospectively to relevant donations made from 25 March 2026 once the legislation takes effect.

This does not automatically make the Delo and Harborne donations unlawful. Their status would depend on the final law and each donor's residency and electoral-registration circumstances. No official determination has been announced.

The Representation of the People Bill would also introduce a moratorium on donations made using cryptocurrency. Calling Delo and Harborne crypto billionaires describes the industry behind much of their wealth; it does not establish that their contributions were paid in digital assets. The proposed crypto donation moratorium would apply retrospectively to donations made from 25 March 2026, but the Bill has not yet completed its parliamentary passage.

For now, Reform has secured a £72 million ($97 million) funding boost while Britain considers whether tighter limits are needed to maintain confidence in political funding.