Reform UK receives two £36 million donations from crypto investors

Reform UK confirmed that cryptocurrency investors Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo each contributed £36 million to the party, matching each other's gifts. The donations, announced on consecutive days, are the biggest ever recorded for a UK political party, surpassing a previous £9 million contribution from Harborne in 2025.

In an opinion piece for The Telegraph, Delo argued the funding was needed to give Reform a "level playing field" in the upcoming general election. Harborne described his contribution as a "philanthropic gift to our country" in a separate editorial.

Farage thanked the donors, stating that they believe Reform is the only party capable of turning the country around. The party, which had led polls earlier in the year, has recently slipped behind Labour after a by-election victory over a satirical candidate.

Reform UK is preparing for a possible early election, seeking candidates for parliamentary seats, though it currently has only about 100 potential "star" candidates. The party and Farage continue to face scrutiny over donation reporting, with a Metropolitan Police investigation into possible breaches of foreign-funding rules and questions about a separate £5 million cash gift Farage received from Harborne in early 2024.