Reform UK receives £72m in crypto donations in two days

Reform UK has received two £36 million donations from cryptocurrency billionaires within 48 hours, totaling £72 million in what is described as the largest single injection of funds in British political history. The donations were announced on Friday and Saturday, with the first coming from Ben Delo, co-founder of the cryptocurrency trading platform BitMEX, and the second from Christopher Harborne, the party's biggest donor. Harborne, a Thailand-based businessman, said in an article published in the Daily Telegraph on Saturday that he was matching Delo's donation. He described the contribution as a "philanthropic gift to our country" and stated he expected nothing in return. "I have already accumulated enough wealth for the rest of my life. I am committed to putting that to work for Britain and humanity as a whole," Harborne wrote. He added that his "competitive spirit" inspired him to match Delo's record donation. Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, said he was "honoured and humbled" by the donations.