Two crypto entrepreneurs donate £72 million to Reform UK

Two crypto entrepreneurs have jointly donated £72 million to Reform UK, Nigel Farage’s British right-wing party. Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne each gave £36 million, a record amount for a donation to a British political party. The gifts come at a time when police are investigating allegations concerning hidden foreign donations to the party.

In brief:

• Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne each donate £36 million to Reform UK
• Delo says he wants to give the party a fair chance at the next election
• Police are investigating allegations about hidden foreign donations to the party

Record donations from two crypto entrepreneurs

Ben Delo, co-founder of crypto exchange BitMEX, is not the only major donor. As previously reported on Blockchain Stories, he already donated a record amount of £36 million. Christopher Harborne now joins him with an equally large gift. Harborne had already given the party £9 million in August.

Delo says he wants to give Reform UK a fair chance at the next election. The party says it wants to use the money to attract policy experts and work on what it describes as the most comprehensive government plan ever.

Police investigation into foreign donations

The donations coincide with an ongoing police investigation into allegations that senior party officials discussed how donations from foreign backers could be kept hidden. Reform UK denies any wrongdoing.

Whether the donations from Delo and Harborne have a political effect depends in part on how the investigation develops and the extent to which the party succeeds in protecting its reputation before the next election.