{
  "id": 6940530,
  "title": "Crypto billionaires give $97 million to Reform UK, fueling concerns about money in politics",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/crypto-billionaires-give-97-million-to-reform-uk-fueling-concerns-6940530",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-12T13:00:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CityNews",
    "slug": "citynews",
    "url": "https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/09/12/crypto-billionaires-give-97-million-to-reform-uk-fueling-concerns-about-money-in-politics/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "London, AP — Anti-immigration party Reform UK recently received a staggering 72 million pounds ($97 million) in donations from two cryptocurrency billionaires, sparking concerns about money influencing British politics. BitMEX co-founder Ben Delo contributed 36 million pounds ($48 million), while crypto investor Christopher Harborne announced he would match the donation, bringing the total to $97 million. Harborne argued that Reform UK's policies could attract the necessary investments to boost the economy and fund essential public services. However, established political parties are warning that unlimited donations from wealthy businessmen could corrupt elections. The Liberal Democrats called on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to cap donations and preserve British democracy. They accused Reform UK of attempting to \"bring Trump's America to our shores by buying his way into power.\" The twin donations set a new record for the largest ever given to a U.K. political party, surpassing the combined amount received by all parties in 2025. The donations come amid multiple allegations of improper fundraising by Reform UK, leading to a police investigation into potential violations of anti-money laundering laws. Ben Delo, who recently returned to the U.K. from Hong Kong, stated that his donation aimed to break up the \"cartel\" that controls British politics, referring to the Labour and Conservative parties that have dominated elections for nearly a century.",
  "summary": "LONDON (AP) — Reform UK, the anti-immigration party led by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, received 72 million pounds ($97 million) from two cryptocurrency billionaires this weekend, fueling concerns about money in British politics.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Politico EU",
        "title": "Farage’s Reform UK gets £36 Million from crypto billionaire",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/farages-reform-uk-gets-36-million-from-crypto-billionaire",
        "published": "2026-09-12T10:17:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Reform receives second £36m donation in two days as crypto investor matches record",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/reform-receives-second-36m-donation-in-two-days-as-crypto-investor",
        "published": "2026-09-12T12:21:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Crypto billionaires give $97 million to Reform UK, fueling concerns about money in politics",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/crypto-billionaires-give-97-million-to-reform-uk-fueling-concerns",
        "published": "2026-09-12T13:00:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Cointelegraph",
        "title": "Farage’s Reform UK gets biggest donation ever from crypto billionaire: Reports",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/farages-reform-uk-gets-biggest-donation-ever-from-crypto-billionaire",
        "published": "2026-09-12T15:50:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Second crypto billionaire says donated record £36 million to Reform UK",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/second-crypto-billionaire-says-donated-record-36-million-to-reform-uk",
        "published": "2026-09-12T19:46:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Second crypto billionaire donates record $49m to far-right Reform UK",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/second-crypto-billionaire-donates-record-49m-to-far-right-reform-uk",
        "published": "2026-09-12T20:43:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Bitcoin billionaires give Nigel Farage’s Reform UK £72m in 48 hours",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/bitcoin-billionaires-give-nigel-farages-reform-uk-72m-in-48-hours",
        "published": "2026-09-13T06:30:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Bitcoin billionaires give Nigel Farage’s Reform UK £72m in 48 hours",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/bitcoin-billionaires-give-nigel-farages-reform-uk-72m-in-48-hours-7076626",
        "published": "2026-09-13T06:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}