A British billionaire, previously found guilty in the United States for not maintaining sufficient anti-money-laundering measures in his cryptocurrency venture, has made a £4 million donation to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party.
Ben Delo, 42, who currently resides in Hong Kong, disclosed in the Telegraph that his contribution was made earlier this year, prior to the establishment of a new limit on political donations from British citizens living overseas.
Having received a pardon from former President Donald Trump last year, Delo plans to return to the UK, which will exempt him from the upcoming donor regulations. These restrictions could potentially hinder further financial support from Christopher Harborne, a donor based in Thailand who has contributed £12 million to the party thus far.
In his Telegraph piece, Delo elaborated on his reasons for aligning with Reform UK, stating that England is his homeland and asserting that “the most significant barrier to national recovery is the deep-seated self-deception among our elites.”
He remarked, “The current regime poses such a serious threat to the UK that, for the first time in my life, I’ve decided to engage politically. Since the beginning of this year, I have donated £4 million to assist Nigel Farage in establishing Reform UK as a legitimate alternative governing party. It is currently leading in the polls by acknowledging and articulating the extensive issues our country faces. For the first time, I sense that serious individuals are genuinely contemplating the solutions needed to rectify Britain.”
Delo, who is on the autism spectrum, expressed his discomfort with the prevalent governmental culture that he claims compels individuals to engage in persistent dishonesty, particularly regarding discussions surrounding transgender issues.
In 2022, Delo was convicted in the US after pleading guilty to breaching the Bank Secrecy Act due to his failure to implement appropriate anti-money-laundering protocols at BitMEX, a cryptocurrency exchange he co-founded that has reached a trillion-dollar valuation.
In his article, he stated, “I was instrumental in developing one of the world’s first significant crypto trading platforms, encountered regulatory issues in the US, accepted a plea agreement along with a civil fine for a regulatory lapse that is not even considered a crime in the UK, and ultimately received a pardon from President Trump.”
An Oxford graduate, Delo identifies as a proponent of free speech and has supported over 50 organizations across various political and public domains, including independent entities and individuals.
A recent investigation by the Guardian into Delo’s political affiliations in Westminster uncovered that he has provided support to Rupert Lowe, an anti-immigration MP contesting Nigel Farage from a more conservative standpoint, while also engaging with mainstream politicians such as Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and former cabinet minister Michael Gove.
The collaborative report by the Guardian and Hope Not Hate indicated that several individuals and initiatives benefitting from Delo’s financial support have taken hardline stances on issues like immigration, nationalism, and abortion.
Moreover, it was revealed that Delo, who claims to have invested over £100 million in philanthropic efforts, has been offering funding, networking opportunities, and logistical support through a facility known as the Sanctuary, located near Westminster Abbey. This venue is available at no cost for events, office use, and podcast production.
Delo’s legal representatives previously informed the Guardian that he provides a venue for diverse perspectives to be shared and financially supports a wide array of organizations, many of which hold differing viewpoints. This, they clarified, does not imply that he endorses all of their views.
Restore Britain, the political party established by Lowe, a former Reform UK MP who now serves as an independent, initiated its campaign for the mass deportation of millions of migrants from a room within the Sanctuary last year.
Farage conveyed to the Telegraph that “Our main focus is to develop a comprehensive government program so that, if elected, we are prepared with the right policies to restore Britain as swiftly as possible. Ben’s backing will enable Reform to attract the necessary skills and talents to prepare for governance.”
He added, “It is especially rewarding for me personally that an individual like Ben, a visionary and problem-solver with a keen ability to identify trends, recognizes the potential of Reform.”
