Headline: BitMEX co‑founder Ben Delo bankrolls Westminster “Sanctuary” used by anti‑woke and right‑leaning activists — raising fresh reputational and transparency questions for crypto philanthropy
Summary: British crypto entrepreneur Ben Delo — pardoned by Donald Trump after a US conviction tied to anti‑money‑laundering failures at BitMEX — has quietly established a suite of rooms overlooking Westminster Abbey that serve as a free venue and production hub for a wide range of groups. A joint investigation by the Guardian and Hope Not Hate finds the space, known as the Sanctuary, is hosting anti‑woke and hardline voices alongside mainstream politicians and civil society figures, while questions remain about the transparency of Delo’s philanthropic vehicle and the political impact of his giving.
Who is Ben Delo (and what was he convicted of)
- Ben Delo, an Oxford‑educated software engineer-turned-crypto entrepreneur, co‑founded BitMEX in 2014. The exchange grew rapidly into one of the world’s largest derivatives platforms.
- In October 2020 US prosecutors charged him under the Bank Secrecy Act for failing to implement required anti‑money‑laundering controls at BitMEX. Delo pleaded guilty in February 2022, agreed to a $10m civil fine and in June 2022 was sentenced to 30 months’ probation.
- US filings alleged the platform processed hundreds of millions of dollars in suspicious transactions tied to those compliance failures; Delo’s lawyers dispute that BitMEX was proven to have been used for money‑laundering.
- BitMEX later entered a guilty plea and was fined $100m in January 2025; the company’s criminal fine was then removed after a full pardon granted to several crypto figures by President Trump in March last year. Delo now calls his conviction a “blip.”
The Sanctuary: a Westminster base for events, podcasts and offices
- Delo funds and provides free access to a second‑floor suite of rooms in a Grade II‑listed building beside Westminster Abbey. The space—described by sources as having a tapestry room, turret room and club‑style common room—offers meeting rooms, catering and audio/video production facilities used for events, podcast recordings and press conferences.
- Visitors have reportedly been asked not to photograph the venue or publicise its location. A framed copy of Delo’s presidential pardon hangs in the hallway.
Who uses it — a mix of mainstream and controversial figures
- The Sanctuary has hosted a broad mix of users: mainstream politicians and public figures alongside hardline anti‑woke, anti‑immigration and socially conservative activists.
- Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and former cabinet minister Michael Gove have attended Delo events; Badenoch reportedly exchanged a friendly note with him after meeting at the Spectator awards.
- More controversial users include: Restore Britain (Rupert Lowe’s new party), which launched a deportation‑focused campaign from the venue; the Triggernometry podcast (1.7m subscribers), which has recorded shows there; Jordan Peterson, who spoke at the Sanctuary; and groups or individuals linked to anti‑migration, nationalist or anti‑abortion causes.
- Guests at Delo’s summer party in Westminster have ranged from charity executives to broadcasters and figures associated with Reform UK, Advance UK (supported by Tommy Robinson), the Alliance Defending Freedom’s UK director, and the Battle of Ideas organiser Claire Fox.
- Some individuals and programmes recorded or promoted at the venue have made statements that prompted controversy — for example, Triggernometry co‑host Konstantin Kisin’s remarks about Rishi Sunak’s ethnicity — though the show denies being politically affiliated.
Philanthropy, pledges and transparency questions
- Delo has publicly pledged to give away at least half his wealth and says he has donated more than £100m to causes, and after the investigation he announced a further £45m pledge to a maths institute and an education charity for autistic children.
- Many beneficiaries reference the “Ben Delo Foundation,” but no UK charity by that name is registered. The foundation’s website (delo.org) has historically lacked published accounts and trustee details; Delo’s lawyers say his giving is managed through a donor‑advised fund held by a UK charity provider and that information about activities is available online. The site was updated after the Guardian sought comment.
- Delo’s team stresses he does not necessarily endorse the views of every guest or organisation that uses the Sanctuary, and that he supports a broad and politically diverse set of groups. Critics say providing free facilities, production resources and networking creates an influential political hub that blurs lines between philanthropy and political organising.
Why this matters for crypto observers
- The story intersects with perennial concerns in crypto about governance, regulatory compliance and reputational risk. A founder who profited from a high‑profile exchange that later attracted criminal charges is now a major political donor and patron in Westminster.
- For industry watchers, the case raises questions about how crypto wealth is channelled into public life, the transparency of donor structures used by entrepreneurs, and how that influence is exercised—especially when it brings together mainstream policymakers and more extreme figures under the banner of “free speech.”
What Delo says and how his team frames it
- Delo portrays himself as a champion of free speech and a disruptor of what he calls “political correctness.” He has said he wants to influence politics, academia and civic life to protect open debate.
- His lawyers reiterate that his philanthropic activities span the political spectrum, and that providing space and support for events does not equate to endorsing every speaker or organisation.
Source and investigation
- The details above are drawn from a joint investigation by the Guardian and Hope Not Hate, which used documents, interviews and social media analysis to map Delo’s activities in Westminster.
Bottom line: Ben Delo’s Sanctuary has become a high‑visibility nexus where crypto wealth, free‑speech advocacy and contentious political ideas meet in the heart of Westminster. For the crypto sector, regulators and the public, the arrangement spotlights how questions of compliance, transparency and influence follow fortunes made in the industry.
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