Reform UK Lands Record £36m Crypto Donation Amid Mega-Donor Controversy
Reform UK has received a record-breaking £36m donation from Ben Delo, a British cryptocurrency billionaire and convicted US money laundering offender.
The donation makes Delo the largest political donor in the UK, surpassing Christopher Harborne's £15m contribution. Reform UK is facing a police investigation into overseas funding and a standards inquiry into an undeclared personal gift from Harborne.
Delo was convicted in 2022 for failing to implement adequate anti-money laundering controls at his trillion-dollar cryptocurrency business BitMEX, before being pardoned by Donald Trump.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage expressed gratitude, stating that Delo's donation shows confidence in the party's ability to turn Britain around and reverse its decline. Delo himself has stated that he is motivated by a desire to challenge the 'entrenched self-deception of our elites' and their 'regime of nonsense'.
The Labour Party has been considering clamping down on mega-donors, with MP Stella Creasy stating that the donation highlights the need for action to prevent these individuals from distorting elections.