Ben Delo, a British cryptocurrency entrepreneur and philanthropist, has become a significant political donor after contributing £36 million to Reform UK, a move matched by fellow crypto investor Christopher Harborne. The 42-year-old’s donation is part of an effort to bolster the party’s financial resources ahead of a potential general election, with the funds aimed at supporting Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Earlier this year, Delo relocated back to the UK to continue his financial support following government restrictions on political donations from expatriates.
Delo’s journey to becoming one of Britain’s wealthiest self-made billionaires began amid a turbulent childhood. Expelled from three primary schools, including for vandalism, he was later diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, which helped explain his early behavioral challenges and revealed his mathematical aptitude. At age 16, he expressed ambitions to become a computer programmer, internet entrepreneur, and millionaire.
He attended Worcester College, Oxford, where he earned a double first in mathematics and computer science in 2005. Despite some disciplinary issues, including narrowly avoiding expulsion for internet piracy, he graduated and worked at IBM and later GSA Capital, a trading firm founded by mathematician Alex Gerko. Delo’s interest in Bitcoin and blockchain technology grew during a stint at JP Morgan in Hong Kong. In 2014, he left to co-found BitMex, a Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency exchange that handles billions in futures trading daily.
By 2018, Delo was recognized as the United Kingdom’s youngest self-made billionaire, with an estimated 30 percent stake in BitMex valued around $3.6 billion. However, the company and its founders faced legal challenges when the U.S. government charged them with failing to implement adequate anti-money-laundering controls in 2020. Delo pleaded guilty, paying a $10 million fine as part of a settlement in 2022. He has maintained that the prosecution unfairly targeted early crypto innovators over what he characterizes as a “non crime.” His conviction was later pardoned by former President Donald Trump in 2023 amid regulatory easing for the crypto industry. Delo welcomed the pardon, affirming that BitMex was built with “mathematical precision” and integrity.
In recent years, Delo has focused on philanthropy, particularly supporting free speech initiatives in the UK, including funding groups such as Toby Young’s Free Speech Union and the Committee for Academic Freedom. He has voiced concern over what he describes as authoritarian trends restricting freedom of expression and hopes political dialogue will shift toward a more democratic approach.
Beyond political causes, Delo has invested in education and research, especially in mathematics and autism support, donating to organizations such as the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences and the YouTube channel Numberphile. Despite his wealth, he has emphasized that financial gain was never his primary motivation, pledging to give away the majority of his fortune.
With BitMex set to close by the end of the month amid market pressures and a failed sale attempt, Delo has defended the UK as a “great country” and called for renewed confidence in its future. Reflecting on his past, he reportedly funded renovations for the toilets at the primary school in Oxford he once vandalized, underscoring a personal connection to his early years.