TLDR:Ben Delo’s £36M Reform UK donation sets a British political record, surpassing the previous £10M high.Delo’s reported 2026 support for Reform UK now totals about £44M after £8M in earlier contributions.The £36M payment nearly matches the roughly £38M Reform UK had raised since its 2021 launch, before the gift.Current UK rules impose no general cap on permissible domestic donations, though reporting rules still apply.BitMEX co-founder Ben Delo has donated £36 million to Reform UK, setting a record for the largest single contribution to a British political party. The payment gives Nigel Farage’s party substantially more funding as it prepares for the next general election.Delo originally intended to contribute £1 million monthly until the election, which must take place by mid-2029. Instead, he transferred the planned support through one payment. He said the approach would give Reform a “level playing field” while reducing the party’s need for continuous fundraising.BitMEX Co-Founder Ben Delo Donates Record £36 Million to Reform UKBitMEX co-founder Ben Delo has donated £36 million to Reform UK, marking the largest single donation ever received by a British political party. Delo said he had originally planned to donate £1 million per month… pic.twitter.com/Ds4eN5aWxg— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) September 12, 2026The £36 million contribution exceeds Britain’s previous single-donation record of £10 million. That amount came through businessman John Sainsbury’s bequest to the Conservative Party. Delo’s payment also surpasses crypto investor Christopher Harborne’s previous £9 million contribution to Reform.Delo Front-Loads £36M as Political Funding Rules Face ReviewThe timing reflects concerns about possible changes to political-finance rules before the election. Delo said providing the money immediately would protect his planned support from future legislative restrictions.However, existing UK rules place no general ceiling on donations from permissible domestic donors. According to the Electoral Commission, eligible individuals and organizations can contribute unlimited amounts.Political parties must still verify donors and meet reporting requirements. Therefore, Delo’s contribution falls under established rules governing permissible domestic political funding.Meanwhile, the government has proposed separate restrictions targeting overseas electors and cryptocurrency payments. One proposal would impose a £100,000 annual donation limit on overseas electors.The government also plans a moratorium on political contributions made directly with crypto assets. Those measures target foreign financial influence rather than imposing a general £100,000 cap on domestic donors.Importantly, the record payment was made as a conventional political donation. It was not transferred through Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency despite Delo’s BitMEX background.Reform’s Funding Base Expands After Delo’s Latest ContributionDelo had already provided Reform with £8 million during 2026 before making the latest payment. His reported support for the year now totals about £44 million.Electoral Commission figures showed he contributed £4 million during the second quarter alone. That represented roughly 75% of the £5.3 million Reform raised during that period.The scale becomes clearer when compared with the party’s previous fundraising. The Independent reported Reform had received roughly £38 million since its 2021 launch before this payment.Consequently, the latest contribution alone is almost equal to the amount Reform collected during that earlier period. It significantly expands the party’s available financial resources before 2029.Delo’s connection to the cryptocurrency industry also brings attention to his past at BitMEX. He co-founded the cryptocurrency derivatives exchange alongside Arthur Hayes and Samuel Reed.In 2022, he pleaded guilty in the United States to failing to establish a Bank Secrecy Act-compliant anti-money-laundering program. President Donald Trump granted Delo and other former BitMEX executives full pardons in March 2025.Separately, Metropolitan Police recently expanded an investigation into allegations involving possible foreign political donations following an undercover investigation. Reform denies wrongdoing and says it will cooperate.There is no indication that the investigation concerns Delo’s £36 million payment. The donation nevertheless gives Reform an unprecedented funding boost ahead of the next UK election.The post BitMEX Co-Founder Ben Delo Gives Reform UK Record £36M Donation appeared first on Blockonomi.