BitMEX co-founder Ben Dellow donated a record £ 36 million to the Reform Britain Party

TLDR: Dellow advances £ 36 million, political funding supervision faces review

The Reform Party expands its funding base after Dellow's latest donation

Ben Dellow donated £ 36 million to the Reform Party, setting a historical record for a single donation by a British political party, surpassing the previous record of £ 10 million. With the implementation of support in 2026, Dellow's cumulative support for the Reform Party has now reached approximately £ 44 million, including a previous £ 8 million donation.

This £ 36 million sum is almost equal to the total fundraising of the Reform Party since its establishment in 2021 (approximately £ 38 million). Currently, UK law does not set an overall cap on legitimate domestic donations, but reporting rules are still subject to.

BitMEX co-founder Ben Dellow has donated £ 36 million to the Reform Party, setting a record for a single donation to a British political party. This huge injection gives Nigel Farage's party a stronger financial base as it prepares for the next general election.

Dellow originally planned to donate £ 1 million a month until the end of the election (which must be held before mid-2029), but he ultimately chose to complete the planned support through a one-time transfer. He said this approach could provide a "level playing field" for the reform party while reducing the pressure on the party to continue to raise funds.

BitMEX co-founder Ben Dellow donated a record £ 36 million to the Reform Party

BitMEX co-founder Ben Dellow donated £ 36 million to the Reform Party, the largest single donation ever received by a British political party. Dellow said he originally planned to donate £ 1 million a month...

The £ 36 million contribution exceeded the UK's previous record of £ 10 million in a single donation. The previous record was maintained by businessman John Sainsbury bequeathed to the Conservatives. Dellow's payment also exceeded the £ 9 million previously donated by cryptocurrency investor Christopher Haboner to the Reform Party.

Dellow advances £ 36 million, political funding regulation faces review

The timing of the donation reflects concerns about possible changes in political financing rules before the election. Dellow said immediate funding would protect its planned support from future legislative restrictions.

However, existing UK rules do not set an overall cap on donations from legitimate domestic donors. According to the Election Commission, eligible individuals and organizations can contribute unlimited amounts.

Still, political parties must verify donors and meet reporting requirements. Therefore, Dellow's donations fall within the established legal domestic political fund management regulations.

At the same time, the government has proposed separate restrictions on overseas voters and cryptocurrency payments. A proposal would set a limit of £ 100,000 for annual donations to overseas voters.

The government also plans to suspend political donations made directly using cryptocurrencies. The measures are aimed at curbing foreign financial influence rather than imposing a universal £ 100,000 cap on domestic donors.

Importantly, this record payment was made in the form of traditional political donations. Although Dellow has a background in BitMEX, the money was not transferred through Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.

The Reform Party expands its funding base after Dellow's latest donation

Prior to this latest payment, Dellow has provided £ 8 million to the Reform Party in 2026. His support for the party this year is reported to total about £ 44 million.

Election Commission data show he contributed £ 4 million in the second quarter alone. This accounted for about 75% of the total £ 5.3 million raised by the Reform Party during the period.

It will be clearer to compare its size with the party's previous fundraising. The Independent reported that before the payment, the Reform Party had received approximately £ 38 million since its establishment in 2021.

Therefore, this latest donation alone is almost equivalent to the amount raised by the Reform Party in the previous period. It significantly expands the financial resources available to political parties until 2029.

Dellow's connections to the cryptocurrency industry have also attracted attention to his past experience with BitMEX. He co-founded the cryptocurrency derivatives exchange with Arthur Hayes and Samuel Reid.

In 2022, he pleaded guilty in the United States to failing to establish anti-money laundering procedures that complied with the Bank Secrecy Act. In March 2025, President Donald Trump granted DeLow and other former BitMEX executives a comprehensive pardon.

Separately, the Metropolitan Police recently expanded its investigation into allegations involving potential foreign political donations following an undercover investigation. The Reform Party denied any wrongdoing and said it would cooperate.

There is currently no indication that the investigation is related to Dellow's £ 36 million donation. Still, the donation provided an unprecedented financial boost to the Reform Party ahead of the next British election.