bit.fan
Reform UK
9 days agoNews Editor

Two crypto billionaires sent nearly $100 million to Reform UK in 48 hours, deepening scrutiny around Nigel Farage

Nigel Farage and Reform UK are facing intense scrutiny after two crypto billionaires, Christopher Harborne and BitMEX co-founder Ben Delo, committed nearly $100 million to the party within two days. The donations landed after months of controversy around Farage’s finances, including an ongoing parliamentary standards inquiry into an undeclared £5 million gift from Harborne and a police review tied to undercover footage about possible overseas-funded political activity. Harborne, a Tether shareholder whose wealth was estimated by The Sunday Times at about $24 billion, and Delo, who received a full pardon from President Donald Trump in March 2025 after a U.S. Bank Secrecy Act case, have become central figures in a debate over how crypto wealth is entering British politics. The scale of the money is unusual in the U.K., where campaign finance has historically been far smaller than in the United States. The case has also raised questions about donor residency, proposed limits on political giving by Britons living abroad, and whether Reform UK will be allowed to keep the funds if the law changes or courts intervene.

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Two crypto billionaires sent nearly $100 million to Reform UK in 48 hours, deepening scrutiny around Nigel Farage
Reform UK
18 days agoNews Editor

Crypto billionaires pour nearly $100 million into Reform UK, fueling a fight over money and influence in British politics

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has become the focal point of a widening row over political money after his party and his personal political operation were backed by two crypto-linked billionaires, Christopher Harborne and BitMEX co-founder Ben Delo. The donations, including two reported gifts worth $48.7 million each within two days, have redrawn the scale of campaign finance in Britain and sparked questions over whether UK politics is drifting toward a more American model of big-money influence. The scrutiny goes beyond headline numbers. Farage is already under investigation by Parliament’s standards system over an undeclared £5 million gift from Harborne, while undercover footage aired by Channel 4 appeared to show discussions around polling funded by a US source, prompting a police review into possible election law breaches. Reform UK denies wrongdoing. The article also tracks how both donors built their fortunes in crypto. Harborne’s wealth is tied largely to an early investment that led to an estimated 12% stake in Tether, while Delo’s profile stems from founding BitMEX and later receiving a pardon from President Donald Trump after a US Bank Secrecy Act case. With Labour proposing new caps on donations from Britons living overseas, the fate of roughly £72 million in Reform UK funding could end up before the courts.

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Crypto billionaires pour nearly $100 million into Reform UK, fueling a fight over money and influence in British politics
Reform UK
18 days agoNews Editor

Two crypto billionaires gave Nigel Farage’s Reform UK about $100 million, reshaping Britain’s political funding debate

Reform UK, the party led by Nigel Farage, received two donations worth roughly $100 million over two days from crypto billionaires Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo. The money arrived as Farage was already facing scrutiny over an earlier undeclared gift linked to Harborne and as British authorities examined whether party figures discussed ways around rules on overseas campaign funding. The scale of the donations is unusual in the U.K., where campaign finance is far smaller than in the U.S. Ben Delo’s contribution of about $48.7 million was described as the largest single political donation in British history, and Harborne matched it a day later. The donations have intensified questions about whether British politics is becoming more dependent on ultra-wealthy backers with fortunes built abroad, including in crypto. The report also tracks how Harborne built a major stake in Tether after the 2016 Bitfinex hack and how Delo, a BitMEX co-founder pardoned by President Donald Trump in 2025, has tied his donation to a broader campaign against political correctness. At the same time, a Labour proposal to cap certain donations at £100,000 a year could force Reform UK to return most of £72 million if the donors are found to have been overseas residents before the cutoff date.

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Two crypto billionaires gave Nigel Farage’s Reform UK about $100 million, reshaping Britain’s political funding debate
UK
2 months agoNews Editor

UK Labour pushes donation curbs after record gifts from crypto billionaires to Reform UK

The UK Labour government is moving ahead with legislation to restrict large political donations from wealthy overseas-linked donors, according to Bloomberg. Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said the proposal would cap annual donations from British citizens living abroad at £100,000, apply the rule to people who have only recently returned to the UK, and claw back past donations that breach the new limits. Funds found to be in violation would have to be returned within 60 days. The move follows two record-setting donations to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK from crypto billionaires within 24 hours. Crypto investor Christopher Harborne donated £36 million, about $48.7 million, on Saturday, matching a donation made the previous day by BitMEX co-founder Ben Delo. Together, the two gifts totaled £72 million, or about $97.4 million. Bloomberg said the donations were tied for the largest individual political donations in British party history. Harborne is also an investor in stablecoin issuer Tether and crypto trading platform Bitfinex.

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UK Labour pushes donation curbs after record gifts from crypto billionaires to Reform UK
Reform UK
2 months agoNews Editor

Two crypto billionaires each give £36 million to Reform UK, tying Britain’s record for personal political donations

Reform UK, the party led by Nigel Farage, has received two massive personal donations from figures tied to the crypto industry within 24 hours. Crypto investor Christopher Harborne gave £36 million, or about $48.7 million, on Saturday, matching a donation made the previous day by BitMEX co-founder Ben Delo. Together, the two contributions total £72 million, or roughly $97.4 million. The donations are tied for the largest personal political gifts ever made to a UK political party. Harborne, an investor in stablecoin issuer Tether and crypto exchange Bitfinex, said he was not seeking a peerage or policy changes. Farage said the money would help Reform UK compete in the next UK general election. The report did not say whether Harborne’s latest donation was made in cryptocurrency. It did note that an earlier £9 million donation from him was paid in cash. The development also comes as London’s Metropolitan Police investigates allegations related to political donations involving Reform UK, while Farage is separately under a parliamentary standards inquiry over a £5 million personal gift from Harborne before his 2024 election as an MP. Reform UK and Farage have denied wrongdoing.

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Two crypto billionaires each give £36 million to Reform UK, tying Britain’s record for personal political donations
Reform UK
2 months agoNews Editor

Two crypto billionaires back Reform UK with combined $97 million donation

BitMEX co-founder Ben Delo has donated £36 million, or about $49 million, to Reform UK, with crypto industry figure Christopher Harborne later pledging an equal amount. The two donations total £72 million, roughly $97 million, setting records for both single and combined political donations in the UK, according to the report. Harborne said Delo’s contribution prompted him to follow with his own, adding that he wanted Reform UK to be ready for government and that he expected nothing in return. Delo said his donation was intended to help ensure the next general election could be fought on a fair basis. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage welcomed both contributions. The funding has also renewed debate in British politics over the influence of crypto-linked money and the rules governing political donations, particularly after Farage had previously faced scrutiny over accepting large donations and gifts tied to the crypto sector.

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Two crypto billionaires back Reform UK with combined $97 million donation
Reform UK
2 months agoNews Editor

Crypto billionaires give Reform UK £72 million in two days as scrutiny over party funding grows

Reform UK has received £72 million ($97 million) from two crypto-linked billionaires in the space of two days, a sum that exceeds the total raised by all British political parties last year combined. BitMEX co-founder Ben Delo first announced a £36 million contribution in The Telegraph on Friday, calling for support through the latest possible election date in 2029 and paying the full amount up front in case the government limits large donations. On Saturday, Thailand-based Tether investor Christopher Harborne matched that amount after having already given Reform £15 million since the last election. The party said the money would help fund policy work and 400 campaign managers. None of the recent or earlier donations from either man were made in crypto, after Britain banned crypto political donations in March. The gifts also arrive while the UK government considers tighter election funding rules and while Reform faces a criminal investigation into its funding, though not over these two donations.

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Crypto billionaires give Reform UK £72 million in two days as scrutiny over party funding grows
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