Reform UK Lands Record Crypto Donation from Pardoned Billionaire

British crypto billionaire Ben Delo has pledged £36 million to Reform UK, making it the party's largest political donation. This is more than three times the amount previously donated by businessman John Sainsbury to the Conservatives. The funding will be provided at a rate of £1 million per month until the next UK general election, expected in mid-2029.

Delo was convicted in the United States for violating the Bank Secrecy Act but was later pardoned by US President Donald Trump. He co-founded cryptocurrency trading platform BitMEX and has been a long-standing supporter of Reform UK. In an opinion article, Delo argued that the party should focus on developing policies and legislation rather than fundraising.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage welcomed the donation, saying he was 'honoured and humbled' by Delo's confidence in the party. However, the announcement comes as the party faces scrutiny over allegations surrounding political donations. Police are investigating claims that two senior Reform aides arranged for a foreign donor to fund polling.