BitMEX Co-Founder Ben Delo Donates £4 Million to Reform UK
Ben Delo, co-founder of crypto derivatives exchange BitMEX, has donated £4 million to Reform UK, bringing his total contributions to £8 million in 2026.
The donation comes from a man who pleaded guilty to US Bank Secrecy Act violations in 2022 over anti-money laundering failures at BitMEX, only to receive a presidential pardon from Donald Trump in 2025.
Delo structured his support in two £4 million tranches. The first arrived in early 2026: £2 million on January 14 and another £2 million on March 2.
The second £4 million tranche landed in Q2 2026, confirmed through Electoral Commission data released on September 3. Reform UK reported £5.3 million in total donations for that quarter, meaning Delo's contribution alone accounted for roughly 75% of the party's quarterly fundraising haul.
Delo has been explicit about his intentions, describing his financial support as building a 'war chest' for upcoming elections.