Crypto Billionaire Ben Delo Funds Westminster Hub for Anti-Woke and Rightwing Activists
Ben Delo, a British billionaire convicted in the United States for failing to implement adequate money-laundering controls on his cryptocurrency business, is funding a political base in the heart of Westminster used by anti-woke and rightwing activists. Delo, 42, who was pardoned by former President Donald Trump last year, provides support in kind to various groups, including those with hardline positions on immigration, nationalism, and abortion.
Philanthropy and Political Influence
Delo, an Oxford graduate who moved to Hong Kong in 2012 and appears to still be based there, claims to be a champion of free speech and has vowed to tackle the nuisance of political correctness. He supports more than 50 organisations across the political spectrum and public life, as well as non-affiliated groups and individuals. A joint investigation by the Guardian and Hope Not Hate reveals some of the people and projects benefiting from Delo's largesse.
Delo says he has poured more than £100 million into philanthropy, providing funding, networking opportunities, and help in kind via a suite of rooms in a building overlooking Westminster Abbey, known as the Sanctuary. Those given access can use the facility free of charge for events, office space, and podcasting.
Key Figures and Activities
Among the beneficiaries is Rupert Lowe, the anti-migration MP challenging Nigel Farage from the right, who launched his party Restore Britain's campaign for the mass deportation of millions of migrants from a room at the Sanctuary last year. The Triggernometry podcast, which describes itself as a free speech and open inquiry platform, has used the facilities to broadcast to its 1.7 million subscribers. Its co-host Konstantin Kisin has questioned whether British-born former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak could be considered English due to his ethnicity.
Delo facilitates events where those with hardline views mix with more mainstream politicians. Guests at his summer party last year included former cabinet minister Michael Gove, Reform UK's head of policy James Orr, and Ben Habib, founder of the political party Advance UK, supported by Tommy Robinson. Delo has also connected with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who sat with him at the Spectator magazine awards dinner in 2023 and later sent him a handwritten note.
Legal Background and Controversies
Delo was convicted in the US in 2022 after pleading guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act by wilfully failing to implement money-laundering controls at BitMEX, the trillion-dollar cryptocurrency exchange he co-founded. US court documents show prosecutors alleged the company was in effect a money-laundering platform due to these failures. Delo's lawyers stated there was no evidence or findings of the company being used for money-laundering purposes, and the prosecutor's assertions were never tested by the court.
After being pardoned by Trump in March last year, Delo now describes his conviction as a non-crime and a blip running a startup. He has announced a further £45 million in donations to a maths institute and an education charity he founded supporting autistic children.
Secretive Operations and Future Plans
The Sanctuary offers no public clues about Delo's occupancy, with his name absent from signage and visitors asked not to take photographs or refer to the facility on social media. Inside, the venue resembles a gentleman's club, with rooms for events and podcasting. Delo hosts an annual summer party in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey, attracting hundreds of guests from various backgrounds.
Delo's PR strategy, drawn up years ago, positions him as a leading British philanthropist dedicated to tackling cancel culture, to be implemented once the dust has settled on his US conviction. With his growing presence in Westminster, Delo aims to influence politics, academia, and wider civic society under the banner of free speech, despite the controversies surrounding his past and the hardline views of some associates.
