Two crypto billionaires, Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, have both made political donations totaling £72 million (or $97 million) to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK political party.

 

The donations, which were first kickstarted by Ben Delo, BitMEX co-founder and recipient of President Trump’s presidential pardon, saw Delo make a £36 million donation, the largest single donation ever made to a UK political party.

 

In the aftermath of the donation, Christopher Harborne, a Thailand based investor linked to Tether and Bitfinex, matched Delo’s donation by also donating £36 million to the Reform UK party. For Harborne, the donation was a philanthropic gift made for the betterment of the party.

 

Responding to the donations from the two crypto investors, Nigel Farage said he was humbled and honored by their contributions while reiterating the confidence they have in the party.

 

“Both men know that we are the only party that can turn the country around and win the next general election. Thanks to their generosity, we are now able to fight that election on a level playing field.”

 

Past Donations 

 

While Ben Delo is a more recent political donor, with all of his known contributions occurring this year, including the £8 million he donated to the party before this huge cash gift, Christopher Harborne has a long history of political donations.

 

Between 2019 and 2020, Harborne donated around £10 million to the Brexit Party, Reform’s predecessor. He also made a single £9 million donation to the Reform Party, followed by an additional donation of roughly £3 million to the party in the first quarter of this year, bringing his total donations to the party to around £15 million to £22 million.

 

Although the UK in March of this year imposed a moratorium, or temporary ban, on cryptocurrency donations to political parties, non-party campaigners, and other related political entities following the Rycroft Review, the donations from these crypto investors were not considered a violation because they were made in cash.