Crypto Billionaire Christopher Harborne Matches Record $49M Donation to Reform UK

Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage, flanked by Deputy Leader Richard Tice and Shadow Home Secretary Zia Yusuf, faced a major financial boost as a second British billionaire made a record donation of almost $49m to the far-right Reform UK party, matching the amount pledged by another businessman just a day prior.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph British newspaper on Saturday, donor Christopher Harborne described the $48.7m (£36m) contribution as a “philanthropic gift” to the country. The 63-year-old Thailand-based cryptocurrency investor stated he felt “inspired” to match the contribution made 24 hours earlier by fellow billionaire Ben Delo, the 42-year-old co-founder of the BitMEX cryptocurrency exchange. These contributions bring the total sum pledged to Reform since Friday to $97m.

The massive influx of funds coincides with scrutiny regarding the party’s finances. London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed the launch of a criminal investigation earlier this week into whether Reform accepted illegal foreign donations.

Nigel Farage celebrated the contributions in a post on X, stating, “You know what Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne want? Nothing. Just a government that will fix Britain. And that’s what Reform UK will deliver.”

Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch, leader of the right-wing Conservative Party, criticized Reform, accusing Nigel Farage and his colleagues of lacking integrity. Posting on X, Badenoch wrote, “You can buy staff and advertising, but you can’t buy judgement or integrity. Sometimes a bigger cheque just means you make more of the same mistakes. The Conservatives are up for the fight.”

While Reform has emerged as a major political force in the UK, recent polling data suggests the party has lost some voters since left-leaning Andy Burnham replaced Keir Starmer as prime minister and Labour Party leader.

Reporting from London, Al Jazeera’s Camille Nedelec noted that both donors believe they are leveling the political playing field. Christopher Harborne compared Reform UK to a startup in need of a boost, arguing that the party lacks the inbuilt infrastructure of financial support and recurring donations enjoyed by mainstream political parties.

Reform, the successor to Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party which changed its name in 2021, has capitalized on voter disillusionment with the Conservatives and Labour amid a dramatic decline in living standards.