Politics 25 sources · over 7 days Latest coverage 13 Sept 2026, 10:52 am UTC

Reform UK Now Holds $97 Million in Crypto Billionaire Donations

Reform UK's total donations from cryptocurrency billionaires have risen to $97 million, amid new scrutiny and possible legal changes.

By Hannah Lindqvist · First published 12 Sept 2026

In brief

  1. Reform UK has received a total of £72 million in donations from crypto billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne.
  2. Each billionaire donor gave £36 million within 48 hours, setting new records for UK political donations.
  3. The donations have allowed Reform UK to match and even exceed the campaign spending of major parties ahead of the general election.
  4. Police have opened a criminal probe into whether the donations breached rules on foreign funding of UK political parties.
  5. A new bill is being discussed in Parliament that could soon restrict large crypto and foreign donations to UK parties.
Reform UK Now Holds $97 Million in Crypto Billionaire Donations
Source: Home | GB News

Timeline · 7 moments

7 moments Open the full timeline →

Ben Delo donates record £36 million to Reform UK

Home | GB News ↗

Ben Delo's legal background and Trump pardon come to light

Guardian Politics ↗

Christopher Harborne matches £36 million donation to Reform UK

Latest news, sport and opinion from the Guardian ↗

Reform UK's total donations reach £72 million

Sky News ↗

Public debate grows over political funding transparency

Le Monde ↗

House of Lords reviews bill to restrict crypto donations

The Block ↗

Police launch criminal probe into Reform UK donations

France24 ↗

Update 13 Sept 2026, 10:52 am UTC

British police have launched a criminal investigation into the £72 million in donations to Reform UK, focusing on possible breaches of rules on foreign political donations. The government is also considering new legislation that could restrict such large crypto and foreign contributions.

Update 12 Sept 2026, 7:09 pm UTC

New coverage reports that Reform UK's total donations from crypto billionaires have reached $97 million, higher than previously reported. There is also news that the House of Lords is reviewing a bill to restrict crypto and foreign donations, which could impact future party funding.

How it started

Reform UK, a party led by Nigel Farage, had been positioning itself as a major challenger in British politics, but its campaign finances lagged behind the larger parties. On 11 September 2026, the party received a major boost when Ben Delo, a British cryptocurrency billionaire, donated £36 million.

Delo's donation was not only substantial in size, but also drew attention because of his background. He had previously been convicted in the United States for failing to implement anti-money laundering controls, but was later pardoned by former President Trump. Delo stated his support for Reform UK was driven by his desire for what he called a "fairer system".

How it unfolded

On 11 September 2026, news broke that Ben Delo had contributed £36 million to Reform UK. The sum set a new record for political donations in the UK, surpassing any previous single donation to a British party.

The next day, 12 September, another major development followed. Christopher Harborne, another cryptocurrency investor with business ties abroad, announced that he had matched Delo's donation with an additional £36 million to Reform UK. This brought the party's total windfall from these two donors to £72 million.

Both donors' backgrounds drew public and media interest. Delo's legal history in the United States and Harborne's international business connections became part of the discussion, especially as the party faces ongoing scrutiny over its funding and transparency.

The donations come as Reform UK is ramping up its campaign for the next general election, aiming to convert this financial momentum into electoral gains.

Where it stands

Reform UK now holds a record-breaking £72 million from just two donors, giving it unprecedented resources for a UK party outside the traditional political establishment. The donations have placed the party in the spotlight, with heightened attention on its funding sources and how it will use the money.

These developments have also sparked debate about the role of large private donors in politics, and whether such sums could reshape the landscape of party campaigning in the lead-up to the general election.

What to watch

With the general election approaching, all eyes are on how Reform UK will spend its new funds and whether this financial advantage will translate into electoral success. There is also ongoing scrutiny from the public and authorities regarding the influence and transparency of large political donations, especially those linked to international cryptocurrency fortunes.

Written from 25 outlets' coverage of this story. Every timeline entry links to the original report.

More in Politics

All →