BitMEX Co-Founder Ben Delo Pledges $27M to London Maths Institute

BitMEX co-founder Ben Delo has pledged 20 million British pounds ($27 million) to the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences (LIMS), making it one of the largest private donations to a UK research institution outside Oxford and Cambridge. The commitment includes $13.3 million upfront, with another $13.3 million contingent upon LIMS matching the amount through further fundraising. This donation launches an $80 million endowment campaign to ensure LIMS's long-term stability. Delo, who previously pleaded guilty to US banking violations and received a pardon from Donald Trump, supports LIMS because it allows researchers to focus purely on research without teaching duties, contrasting with what he called the UK's "lacklustre and inconsistent approach to scientific funding."

LIMS, founded in 2011, focuses exclusively on research in theoretical physics, pure mathematics, and artificial intelligence, backing three-year fellowships. Delo, who is also a LIMS trustee, stated he wants to help the institute win major awards like the Fields Medals and Nobel Prizes. The article also briefly mentions related news regarding UK lawmakers calling for a temporary ban on political donations made in cryptocurrency.

(Source：Cointelegraph)