BitMEX co-founder Ben Delo has donated £36 million to Reform UK, setting a record for the largest single contribution ever made to a British political party. The payment gives Nigel Farage’s party substantially more funding as it prepares for the next general election, which must take place by mid-2029. Because the election is not required until then, the single payment makes the full planned amount available well before the legal deadline rather than releasing it through monthly installments.

Delo had originally planned to donate £1 million per month until the election. Instead, he transferred the planned support in a single payment, saying the approach would give Reform a “level playing field” while reducing the party’s need for continuous fundraising.

The donation exceeds Britain’s previous single-donation record of £10 million. That contribution came through businessman John Sainsbury’s bequest to the Conservative Party. Delo’s payment also surpasses crypto investor Christopher Harborne’s previous £9 million contribution to Reform UK.

BitMEX Co-Founder Ben Delo Donates Record £36 Million to Reform UK BitMEX co-founder Ben Delo has donated £36 million to Reform UK, marking the largest single donation ever received by a British political party. Delo said he had originally planned to donate £1 million per month… pic.twitter.com/Ds4eN5aWxg — Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) September 12, 2026

https://x.com/WuBlockchain/status/2098591024717406308?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Donation made as political funding rules face review

The timing of the payment reflects concerns about possible changes to political-finance rules before the election. Delo said providing the money immediately would protect his planned support from future legislative restrictions.

Existing UK rules do not impose a general ceiling on donations from permissible domestic donors. According to the Electoral Commission, eligible individuals and organizations can contribute unlimited amounts, provided the donations come from permissible sources.

Political parties must still verify donors and comply with reporting requirements. Delo’s contribution therefore falls under the established rules governing permissible domestic political funding.

The government has separately proposed restrictions targeting overseas electors and cryptocurrency payments. One proposal would impose a £100,000 annual donation limit on overseas electors. The government also plans a moratorium on political contributions made directly with crypto assets, as outlined in its official announcement.

Those measures target foreign financial influence rather than imposing a general £100,000 limit on domestic donors. The record payment was made as a conventional political donation, not through Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency, despite Delo’s background in the digital-asset industry.

Reform’s funding base expands

Delo had already provided Reform UK with £8 million during 2026 before making the latest payment. His reported support for the party during the year now totals about £44 million.

Electoral Commission figures showed that Delo contributed £4 million during the second quarter alone. That represented roughly 75% of the £5.3 million Reform raised during the period.

The scale of the latest payment is clearer when compared with Reform’s previous fundraising. The Independent reported that the party had received roughly £38 million since its 2021 launch before Delo’s £36 million contribution. The latest donation alone is therefore almost equal to the amount Reform had collected during that earlier period, significantly expanding its available financial resources before 2029.

Delo’s connection to the cryptocurrency industry has also drawn attention to his history at BitMEX. He co-founded the cryptocurrency derivatives exchange alongside Arthur Hayes and Samuel Reed.

In 2022, Delo pleaded guilty in the United States to failing to establish a Bank Secrecy Act-compliant anti-money-laundering program. President Donald Trump granted Delo and other former BitMEX executives full pardons in March 2025.

Separately, the Metropolitan Police recently expanded an investigation into allegations involving possible foreign political donations following an undercover investigation. Reform denies wrongdoing and says it will cooperate. There is no indication that the investigation concerns Delo’s £36 million payment.

The donation gives Reform UK an unprecedented funding boost ahead of the next UK election.

Source: Blockonomi