Crypto Tycoon Delo Pledges £20 Million to UK Maths Charity

Cryptocurrency entrepreneur Ben Delo has made another significant donation to a UK-based charity, pledging £20 million to the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences (Lims). This latest contribution follows his recent announcement of a £25 million donation to an English autism charity he founded in 2020.

Lims plans to use the funds towards securing a £60 million endowment, which will support cutting-edge research and establish the institute as one of the world's premier research centres. The organization aims to raise the remaining £10 million through matched funding, with Lims' chief science writer Ananyo Bhattacharya stating that the timing of the donations depends on how quickly the charity can raise the funds.

Delo, who founded BitMEX in 2014 and made his fortune in cryptocurrency, was pardoned by Donald Trump in March 2025 after serving a 30-month probation sentence. He has expressed confidence that with the backing of this endowment, Lims will be able to drive forward its research and become a leading institution in the field.

Thomas Fink, founding director of Lims, welcomed Delo's donation, stating that it will catalyze support for the charity and enable it to build a permanent home for top theorists. The institute has acknowledged that 2024 was a 'disappointing' year financially, but is aiming to broaden its fundraising streams.