On March 3, according to Cointelegraph, a co-founder of a major centralized exchange (CEX), Ben Delo, pledged to donate approximately $27 million to the London Institute of Mathematical Sciences (LIMS), making it one of the largest private donation recipients outside of Oxford and Cambridge in the UK. This funding includes a $13.3 million advance payment and an equal amount raised through additional fundraising to establish a long-term endowment fund totaling $80 million, supporting research in theoretical physics, pure mathematics, and artificial intelligence.
Ben Delo stated that he hopes the institute’s scholars will win Fields Medals and Nobel Prizes. He emphasized that choosing LIMS over large universities allows researchers to focus on scientific research without the burden of teaching and administrative duties. He also criticized the UK’s research funding system for lacking vitality and coherence. Delo has previously funded the Ben Delo Scholarship and supports charitable causes such as neurodiversity, academic freedom, and mathematics education.
Reports indicate that Delo paid a $10 million fine before receiving a pardon from Donald Trump, after admitting responsibility along with co-founders for violating U.S. banking laws. In March 2025, President Trump granted him a pardon, allowing him to continue participating in scientific research and philanthropy.
LIMS was founded in 2011 by physicist Thomas Fink and is located within the Royal Institution of the UK. Its offices were once the residence of chemist Michael Faraday. The institute offers three-year scholarships for scientists and funds exiled researchers, attracting scientists worldwide.
Meanwhile, UK lawmakers are calling for a temporary ban on political donations via cryptocurrencies, warning that such payments could lead to foreign interference. Previously, Reform UK received a record-breaking $12 million in political donations from early cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne. Industry experts believe that as crypto assets continue to enter academic and political spheres, regulation and compliance issues will become key concerns.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
U.S. Sanctions Iran-Linked Crypto Wallets as Tether Freezes $344 Million USDT
Gate News message, April 26 — U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Friday that the federal government is sanctioning multiple wallets linked to Iran as part of efforts to increase economic pressure on the country amid an ongoing ceasefire. The move came a day after Tether froze $344 mi
GateNews22m ago
Aave, Kelp, LayerZero Seek $71M Frozen ETH Release from Arbitrum DAO
Aave Labs, Kelp DAO, LayerZero, EtherFi, and Compound filed a Constitutional AIP on the Arbitrum forum Saturday morning requesting the network's DAO release approximately $71 million in frozen ETH to support rsETH recovery efforts following last week's $292 million Kelp DAO exploit. The proposal
CryptoFrontier53m ago
Tennessee Becomes Second U.S. State to Ban Crypto ATMs; Violations Carry Class A Misdemeanor
Gate News message, April 26 — Tennessee has become the second U.S. state to outright ban crypto ATMs statewide, with Governor Bill Lee signing House Bill 2505 into law on April 13. The measure, which passed both chambers unanimously, officially takes effect on July 1.
The law prohibits the
GateNews4h ago
U.S. DOJ Drops Criminal Probe Into Fed Chair Powell, Clearing Path for Crypto-Friendly Kevin Warsh Confirmation
Gate News message, April 26 — The U.S. Department of Justice has dropped its criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Friday (April 25), clearing the way for the Senate to confirm incoming central bank chair Kevin Warsh. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine
GateNews6h ago
US Sanctions Iran-Linked Crypto Wallets; Tether Freezes $344 Million in USDT
Gate News message, April 26 — U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the federal government is sanctioning multiple wallets linked to Iran as part of efforts to increase economic pressure on the country. The move follows Tether's decision on Thursday, April 24, to freeze $344 million w
GateNews6h ago
Two South Korean Army Officers Sentenced to 2 Years for Illegal Crypto Exchange Operations and Drug Money Laundering
Gate News message, April 26 — Two active-duty South Korean Army officers in their 30s from the Special Warfare Command were each sentenced to two years in prison and fined 54.69 million Korean won by Changwon District Court on April 26 for operating an unlicensed virtual asset exchange and
GateNews6h ago
