Ben Delo, a 42-year-old British crypto billionaire and philanthropist, has made the largest political donation in UK history, contributing £36 million to the Reform UK party. The donation, revealed on September 12, 2026, was matched by fellow crypto investor Christopher Harborne. Delo stated he moved back to the UK earlier this year after the government implemented a cap on ex-pat donations, which he accused of unfairly disadvantaging the opposition. He has pledged to donate millions more to Reform UK and help build a "war chest" for its leader, Nigel Farage, ahead of the next General Election.
Delo, co-founder of the crypto trading platform BitMEX, has had a notable life journey. He was expelled from three primary schools, but after being diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, his talent for mathematics was nurtured. His early ambition, noted at age 16, was to become a "computer programmer. Internet entrepreneur. Millionaire." He attended Oxford University, where he studied mathematics and computer science, graduating with a double first in 2005. Following roles at IBM and GSA Capital, Delo moved to Hong Kong and became involved in the early days of Bitcoin.
In 2014, he co-founded BitMEX. By 2018, Delo had become the UK's youngest self-made billionaire. However, in 2020, he and other BitMEX founders were charged by the U.S. government for allegedly failing to implement anti-money laundering controls and targeting American users from an offshore base. Delo pleaded guilty and paid a $10 million fine as part of a settlement, though he has defended his actions, characterizing the prosecution of early crypto pioneers as unfair.
In 2025, former President Trump pardoned Delo and others, a move Delo welcomed while expressing frustration that it overshadowed his other achievements. He has been a vocal critic of what he views as U.S. regulatory crackdowns on the cryptocurrency industry, arguing that early pioneers like himself bore the brunt of regulators' lack of understanding.
Beyond his financial dealings, Delo is a prominent advocate for free speech. This passion was reportedly ignited by the case of Paul Chambers, who faced prosecution for a tweet. Delo has since spoken out against the arrest of individuals for social media posts, labeling it "authoritarianism." He has used his wealth to support free speech organizations in the UK, including the Free Speech Union, and campaigns against speech restrictions in universities. He has also criticized what he calls an "absence of common sense" and "policing of opinions and policing of thought."
Delo has previously donated over £100 million to various causes, including mathematics and science research, support for autistic children, and free speech initiatives. He has funded mathematics programs and the popular YouTube channel Numberphile. He has also criticized what he termed "short-sighted" cuts to advanced math programs by the Labour party.
His workaholic nature is noted, with Delo humorously referring to his wife as a "BitMEX widow." BitMEX is scheduled to close at the end of September 2026 following a strategic review. Delo has expressed his belief in Britain and the need for people to "believe in Britain." He recently also reportedly donated funds to renovate staff lavatories at a primary school in Oxford that he had vandalized as a child.