$97 Million Crypto Donations Fuel Concerns Over Money in Politics

Crypto billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne have given Reform UK, an anti-immigration party led by Nigel Farage, a total of $97 million in donations. The twin donations are tied for the biggest ever to a U.K. political party, exceeding the combined amount received by all parties in 2025.

The news has raised concerns about money in British politics and the potential for corrupting elections. Reform UK's surge in public opinion polls has been fueled by its criticism of successive governments' failure to stop migrant boats reaching Britain's shores.

Delo, a co-founder of the BitMEX cryptocurrency platform, donated $48 million, while Harborne matched this amount on Saturday. Delo justified his donation as an attempt to break up the 'cartel' controlling British politics, referring to the Labour and Conservative parties that have dominated elections for over a century.