Community Trust ScoreVerified
Reform UK has just secured £85 million in forty-eight hours. The two men behind this are Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, two crypto billionaires who each put £36 million on the table.
Delo is the co-founder of BitMEX, based in Hong Kong. He announced his donation in a British newspaper, without much concealment. His plan: one million pounds per month until the general elections, scheduled for mid-2029. Not a one-time check. A steady stream, designed to last. Harborne, on the other hand, is the sixth richest person in the UK. His £36 million donation breaks his own record — he had already heavily invested in Reform UK in 2025, but this time he has outdone himself. The two men share the same goal: to give Nigel Farage’s party an electoral infrastructure capable of competing with the major traditional parties that have decades of machinery behind them.
Eighty-five million in two days. It’s unprecedented for Reform UK.
Farage Under Investigation as Funds Pour In
The timing is harsh. Just as these millions are coming in, Reform UK is facing several investigations that seriously complicate the picture. Farage is accused of not declaring a £5 million donation received from Harborne — yes, the same Harborne — before his first election in 2024. Farage denies it. He says the donation was personal, not political. No wrongdoing, according to him.
But there’s more. The London police have expanded a criminal investigation into foreign donations received before the 2024 general elections. No details on who exactly is targeted, nor on the precise progress of the case. What is known: the investigation exists, it’s expanding, and it comes at the worst time for a party trying to convince that its rise is clean.
The recent party congress was supposed to be a relaunch. A moment to present an ambitious program, to show that Reform UK is ready to govern one day. Not quite. A compromising report on the party’s finances emerged at the worst possible time, undermining the momentum Farage wanted to create. Result: voting intentions are stagnant.
Debate on Donation Caps Resurfaces
These sums reignite a question the UK has long avoided: should political donations be capped? The Labour government has so far resisted touching this. But a bill is circulating — it would aim to limit donations from UK residents abroad to £100,000 per year. Delo is based in Hong Kong. Harborne, the sixth richest Briton, has interests everywhere. It’s unclear if this proposal is really advancing or if it remains shelved.
What is clear: money from abroad, or from people settled abroad, is increasingly worrisome. The idea that fortunes built outside the UK can weigh so heavily in a British election is unsettling. Criticism is mounting from both sides of the political spectrum.
Meanwhile, Labour seems to be benefiting from the turmoil. Under Andy Burnham, the party is regaining ground in the polls. Reform UK, which was leading just a few months ago, sees the gap narrowing. Farage had marked a real turning point during the 2025 local elections. But the investigations, the financial revelations, the congress report — all this has tarnished the party’s image faster than it was built.
Political financing in the UK is not regulated like in other democracies. No national cap on private donations. No strict limit on what an individual can give to a party over a given period — at least not at the level that these £36 million each would render illegal. It’s legal. That’s what shocks as much as the amounts.
Reform UK wants a machine. Local offices, paid activists, large-scale digital campaigns. Established parties have taken decades to build that. Delo and Harborne want to buy time. A million a month from Delo, £36 million in one go from Harborne — it’s an attempt at a brutal acceleration.
Farage remains the central figure. Despite the investigations, despite the revelations, he holds on. His recent re-election, even in an election largely boycotted according to some observers, gave him formal legitimacy. But his room for maneuver is shrinking. The ongoing investigations could have direct consequences on his ability to campaign in 2029.
The proposal on expatriate donations remains vague. No precise timeline, no imminent vote announced. But the debate is very much alive — and £85 million in forty-eight hours has given it new urgency.
Harborne had already set a record in 2025. He has just broken his own.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much has Reform UK received in donations in two days?
Reform UK has received £85 million in forty-eight hours, including £36 million from Ben Delo and £36 million from Christopher Harborne.
Who is Ben Delo and what is his connection to Reform UK?
Ben Delo is the co-founder of BitMEX, based in Hong Kong. He is donating one million pounds per month to Reform UK until the general elections scheduled for mid-2029.
What investigations are currently targeting Reform UK?
Nigel Farage is accused of not declaring a £5 million donation from Harborne before the 2024 elections. The London police have also expanded a criminal investigation into foreign donations received before those same general elections.
Why It Matters
The significant financial backing from prominent figures in the cryptocurrency industry highlights the increasing intersection of digital finance and traditional political landscapes in the UK. This infusion of capital could signal a growing trend of wealthy crypto investors leveraging their resources to influence political agendas, especially as regulatory frameworks around cryptocurrencies continue to evolve. The sustained support from these billionaires may also indicate a strategic move to align political outcomes with the interests of the crypto sector, particularly as the UK navigates its post-Brexit economic landscape.
