In the first quarter of 2026, cryptocurrency billionaires Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo donated £7 million ($9.4 million) to Nigel Farage's Reform UK party. This sum exceeded the total donations received by both the Conservative Party (£6 million) and Labour Party (£4.1 million). Harborne, the UK's sixth-richest person with a net worth of $24.4 billion and a 12% stake in Tether, donated £3 million on January 23. Ben Delo, BitMEX co-founder who pleaded guilty to violating the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act in 2022 and later received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, donated £4 million across two payments. The donations represent 28% of all £24 million in political donations accepted by UK-registered parties in Q1 2026. The influx follows a UK ban on crypto political donations and a cap on overseas donations from British expats, prompted by the Rycroft review. Campaign finance reform advocates criticized the donations, with Clean Up Westminster's CEO stating that wealthy donors should not have a louder voice in democracy. Reform UK, a vocal crypto advocate, has proposed policies like a crypto strategic reserve. Farage faces an investigation over a separate £5 million gift from Harborne.

Key facts

• Harborne donated £3m; Delo donated £4m in Q1 2026 to Reform UK.
• Total donations to Reform UK (£9.3m) surpassed Conservatives and Labour.
• Crypto donations equal 28% of all UK party donations in Q1 2026.
• UK banned crypto political donations and capped overseas donor contributions.
• Farage under investigation for undeclared £5m gift from Harborne.