BitMEX co-founder Ben Delo funded 75% of Reform UK’s Q2 2026 donations

Ben Delo, co-founder of the crypto exchange BitMEX, provided nearly three-quarters of the donations received by the UK political party Reform UK in the second quarter of 2026, according to records from the UK’s Electoral Commission.

Delo made two contributions in April: £1 million (about $1.3 million) and £3 million (about $4 million). Together, these donations accounted for 74% of the roughly $7.3 million Reform UK received between April and June 2026.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is under investigation after accepting donations and gifts from two other crypto-linked figures, Christopher Harborne and George Cottrell. Farage resigned as a member of parliament in July amid the scandal but later won a by-election with 63% of the vote.

Key numbers

• Reform UK received about $7.3 million in Q2 2026 donations.
• Ben Delo contributed £4 million (about $5.3 million) in total during that period.
• Delo’s donations covered 74% of the party’s Q2 funding.
• Delo also gave $5.3 million to Reform UK in Q1 2026.

Political reaction

UK lawmakers have raised concerns about the influence of crypto-related donations on politics. In July, Labour MPs reportedly considered making permanent a temporary ban on crypto donations introduced in March, following Farage’s acceptance of gifts from Harborne and Cottrell.

Delo’s background

Delo was one of three BitMEX co-founders who pleaded guilty in the US to violating the Bank Secrecy Act. He agreed to a $10 million fine in 2022 and, along with Arthur Hayes and Samuel Reed, received a pardon from US President Donald Trump in March 2025.

Sources

• Cointelegraph