Ben Delo’s Major Donation Supports Reform UK
Ben Delo, co-founder of the Canadian cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX, made two cash donations totaling £4 million to the British political party Reform UK in April. This amount represents 72% of the party’s total reported donations for the second quarter, which amounted to £5.55 million. The UK Electoral Commission published the donation records on September 3, confirming that both donations were received in mid and late April and significantly outpaced all other political contributions received by the party during that period.
Donation Details Highlight Political Influence
On April 17, Reform UK received a £1 million donation from Delo, followed by a £3 million donation on April 30, both cleared the following day. Apart from these, the largest single donation to Reform UK in that quarter was just £180,000. The scale of Delo’s donations stands out not only within Reform UK but also across broader UK party funding that quarter, surpassing the largest individual donations made to the Conservative and Labour parties. While those parties received total sums of £4.2 million and £3.6 million respectively, their largest single donations hovered around £550,000.
BitMEX Set to Close on September 23, 2026
Ben Delo is widely recognized for his role in the cryptocurrency sector as BitMEX’s co-founder. The exchange, once a global leader in crypto derivatives trading, has announced it will officially cease operations on September 23, 2026. The impending closure is expected to have notable repercussions within the cryptocurrency market. Delo’s substantial funding of a political party preceding the shutdown has drawn considerable attention from both industry watchers and political analysts.
Context and Ongoing Considerations
Reform UK, launched in 2019, advocates for significant political and economic reforms. Delo’s financial support is interpreted by observers as an endorsement of these objectives. Despite the official acknowledgment of these donations, questions remain regarding the transparency of funding sources and how the contributions will be utilized. As BitMEX approaches its closure date, the intersection of cryptocurrency market developments and political funding is anticipated to remain under scrutiny.