Crypto billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne donate £72M combined to UK's Reform party, exceeding all major parties' 2024 fundraising.
Regulation & Gov ·
Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne each donated £36 million to Reform UK, according to reporting on the contributions. The timing of the donations coincides with legislative activity in the House of Lords, which is considering a bill that would prohibit crypto-based political giving and cap overseas donations at £100,000 annually.
The dual contributions represent a significant inflow of capital to the party during a period of regulatory scrutiny over cryptocurrency funding sources in UK politics. The proposed legislation would effectively prevent future donations of this magnitude from cryptocurrency-linked individuals, marking a potential shift in how digital asset holders can participate in political financing.
The outcome of the House of Lords proposal remains pending, and it is not yet clear whether the bill will advance to passage or how existing donations made prior to any restrictions would be treated under the framework under consideration.