Two cryptocurrency billionaires have each donated £36 million to Reform UK, marking the largest single donations in recent British political history and providing Nigel Farage’s party with a combined total of £72 million in new funding. This surge of financial support triples Reform UK’s previously declared fundraising for the year to more than £102 million, significantly outpacing the combined totals of the Conservative Party, Labour, and the Liberal Democrats.
The donors, Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo—both British citizens—have contributed to the party in a bid to help prepare Reform UK for government. Harborne, whose wealth stems from aviation, defence, and cryptocurrency ventures, has given a total of £51 million to the party, while Delo, co-founder of the cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX, has donated £44 million in total. Delo previously pleaded guilty in the United States in 2022 for failing to implement adequate anti-money laundering controls and was pardoned by then-President Donald Trump in 2025.
Farage stated that the funds would be used solely to ready the party for the next general election, emphasizing investment in comprehensive policy research and the hiring of campaign managers and legal experts to draft legislation. Reform UK plans to deploy dedicated campaign teams in hundreds of constituencies, an approach seen as more expansive than traditional strategies employed by the Conservatives and Labour. This financial empowerment is perceived by Reform UK officials as enabling them to level the electoral playing field, especially in areas where they aim to unseat Labour MPs in northern England and Conservative MPs in the south.
The unprecedented scale of the donations has elicited diverse reactions across the political spectrum. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch acknowledged her party’s readiness to compete but cautioned that substantial funds do not guarantee sound judgement or integrity. Labour responded swiftly, encouraging members to increase their contributions and framing the donations as a call to action. Several Labour figures criticized the influence of large donations in politics and called for the introduction of caps on political funding.
The current UK regulatory framework does not limit how much an individual voter may donate. While the government is progressing with measures to cap donations from British citizens living abroad to £100,000 annually, no such cap is set for those residing in the UK. This has sparked renewed debate about tightening donation limits, with some Labour MPs and Lords preparing amendments to the Representation of the People Bill aimed at introducing a £100,000 cap on all individual donations.
The integrity of some donations to Reform UK is under investigation by the Metropolitan Police, though Farage and party members have denied any wrongdoing. Reform’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, rejected claims that Farage’s support for cryptocurrency reforms is linked to the donations, describing the party’s stance as accepting the reality of the crypto economy rather than being influenced by donors.
The timing of the cash influx is notable amid speculation that Prime Minister Andy Burnham may call an early general election. Reform’s enhanced financial capacity introduces a new dynamic to the electoral landscape, complicating prospects for both Labour and the Conservatives as they prepare for potentially intensified competition.