Trump Pardon Recipient Funnels Millions to UK Far-Right Party After Dodging Money Laundering Charges

A cryptocurrency executive who pleaded guilty to violating US money laundering laws has donated $5.3 million to Nigel Farage's far-right Reform UK party -- just weeks after receiving a full pardon from Donald Trump.

Ben Delo, co-founder of the cryptocurrency derivatives exchange BitMEX, announced the contribution in an April 8 op-ed in The Telegraph. The donation marks his first public foray into political activism, coming less than a month after Trump wiped his criminal record clean.

From Money Laundering Conviction to Political Mega-Donor

Delo co-founded BitMEX in 2014. In 2022, he pleaded guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act for failing to maintain anti-money laundering controls at the platform -- the very safeguards designed to prevent illicit financial flows. He paid a $10 million civil fine and received 30 months of probation.

In March 2025, Trump granted full pardons to Delo and his BitMEX co-founders, Arthur Hayes and Samuel Reed. Within weeks, Delo was writing checks to one of Europe's most prominent far-right political movements.

In his Telegraph op-ed, Delo framed the donation as a response to what he called "a crisis of honesty in British public life." He claimed Reform UK was "the only party willing to confront the country's problems directly."

The timing is hard to ignore. A crypto executive convicted of financial crimes receives clemency from a US president known for rewarding loyalty -- and immediately channels millions into a political party led by one of Trump's most vocal international allies.

Relocating to Bypass UK Donation Limits

Delo's political spending spree comes as the UK government attempts to crack down on foreign financial influence in British politics. On March 25, the government introduced a cap limiting political donations from British citizens living abroad to $132,000 annually. The measure also imposed a moratorium on cryptocurrency donations.

The restrictions followed an independent review into foreign financial interference led by former Permanent Secretary Philip Rycroft. The review raised concerns about overseas money shaping UK elections and policy.

Delo, currently based in Hong Kong, announced he will relocate to Britain to sidestep the cap and continue funding Reform UK's campaign efforts. The move suggests his commitment to bankrolling Farage's party extends beyond a one-time donation.

Reform UK's Foreign Funding Pipeline

Delo's contribution adds to a pattern of overseas money flowing into Reform UK. The party has received $15.9 million from Christopher Harborne, a Thailand-based British investor, over the past year. The new donation cap could significantly limit Harborne's future contributions -- making Delo's willingness to relocate all the more valuable to Farage's operation.

Reform UK has positioned itself as a populist alternative to both the Conservative and Labour parties, advocating for stricter immigration controls, opposition to climate policies, and skepticism of international institutions. Farage, a key architect of Brexit, has cultivated close ties with Trump and the American far-right.

The Pardon-to-Donation Pipeline

Trump's use of clemency powers has consistently favored political allies, financial backers, and individuals who could advance his interests. The pardons of Delo and his BitMEX co-founders fit a broader pattern of Trump absolving white-collar criminals with connections to his political network.

Delo's rapid pivot from pardoned felon to political mega-donor raises uncomfortable questions: Are Trump's pardons being used to empower individuals who will fund far-right movements abroad? Is clemency being granted with the expectation of future political returns?

The UK government's efforts to limit foreign influence in British politics may have come too late to stop this particular transaction. But Delo's donation -- and his willingness to relocate to keep the money flowing -- underscores how Trump's pardon power can have consequences far beyond US borders.

When a president pardons someone convicted of failing to prevent money laundering, and that person immediately funnels millions into a far-right political party, it is worth asking what kind of accountability system we are operating under -- and who benefits when that system breaks down.