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Franklin Templeton Launches Franklin Crypto After 250 Digital Acquisition

Franklin Templeton Acquires 250 Digital and Launches Franklin Crypto – Asset Manager Expands Active Digital Asset Capabilities

Key Takeaways

• Franklin Templeton completed the acquisition of crypto management firm 250 Digital on June 22.
• The deal includes 250 Digital’s team and all liquid cryptocurrency strategies previously run by CoinFund.
• The asset manager has launched a new division, Franklin Crypto, focused on actively managed digital asset products for institutional investors.
• Franklin Templeton’s tokenized asset platform Benji holds $2.51 billion in on-chain value, with 61% on Ethereum and $670.7 million on Stellar.
• Monthly transfers on the platform have fallen by 81.6% from $900.8 million to $176.5 million, while asset values reached record levels.

Franklin Templeton Completes Acquisition of 250 Digital

Franklin Templeton, which manages approximately $1.78 trillion in assets, has finalized the acquisition of cryptocurrency management firm 250 Digital. The transaction was completed on June 22 and includes both the firm’s team and its liquid cryptocurrency strategies that were previously run by CoinFund.

By integrating 250 Digital, Franklin Templeton adds established crypto investment strategies and portfolio management capabilities to its existing operations. The move marks a structural expansion rather than a passive allocation to digital assets. Instead of limiting exposure to indirect or index-based products, the firm is now incorporating active crypto management into its broader investment framework.

The acquisition directly supports the formation of a dedicated business unit focused on digital assets.

Launch of Franklin Crypto as Dedicated Digital Asset Division

Following the acquisition, Franklin Templeton announced the creation of Franklin Crypto. The new division is tasked with delivering actively managed digital asset products to institutional investors.

Chris Perkins will lead the unit as Head of Franklin Crypto, while Seth Ginns has been appointed Chief Investment Officer. The structure places digital asset management within a formalized organizational framework, with defined leadership roles and responsibility for strategy and risk oversight.

According to the company’s announcement, Franklin Crypto will build on Franklin Templeton’s existing research, portfolio construction, and risk management expertise. This suggests that digital asset strategies will be integrated into the firm’s established institutional processes rather than managed as a standalone experimental segment.

For institutional investors, the creation of a dedicated crypto division may provide clearer governance structures and defined accountability for digital asset products.

Growth of Tokenized Assets on the Benji Platform

Alongside its acquisition and new division, Franklin Templeton continues to expand its tokenized asset operations. The firm’s tokenized asset platform, known as Benji, currently holds $2.51 billion in on-chain value.

Approximately 61% of this value, or about $1.5 billion, is hosted on Ethereum. An additional $670.7 million is issued on the Stellar network. The distribution across two separate blockchains indicates that investors are not concentrating exposure on a single network.

The multi-chain allocation reflects how tokenized financial products can operate across different blockchain infrastructures. For users evaluating blockchain-based financial services, the data shows that large asset managers are maintaining issuance across more than one chain rather than relying exclusively on a single ecosystem.

The on-chain figures also indicate continued capital growth in Franklin Templeton’s tokenized products through 2025 and into 2026.

Decline in Transfer Volumes Despite Record Asset Values

While total asset values on Benji have reached record levels, transaction activity has moved in the opposite direction. Monthly transfers on the platform declined by 81.6%, falling from $900.8 million to $176.5 million.

This divergence between asset growth and transfer activity highlights a shift in usage patterns. Capital allocated to tokenized products has increased, yet investors are moving funds less frequently than before. The data points to a reduction in turnover even as total value locked on-chain rises.

Lower transfer volumes also imply reduced liquidity in terms of transactional movement, as fewer assets are being actively exchanged month to month. At the same time, the accumulation of capital suggests sustained allocation rather than short-term rotation.

For market participants monitoring tokenized real world assets and blockchain-based investment products, the contrast between rising value and declining transfers provides insight into current investor behavior within these structures.

Institutional Focus on Actively Managed Digital Assets

Franklin Templeton’s decision to acquire 250 Digital and formally establish Franklin Crypto represents an operational expansion into active digital asset management. The inclusion of an experienced team and existing liquid crypto strategies strengthens the firm’s internal capabilities.

At the same time, the growth of the Benji platform to $2.51 billion in on-chain value demonstrates measurable capital allocation to tokenized products. The allocation across Ethereum and Stellar further shows that institutional tokenized assets are not confined to a single blockchain network.

Together, these developments show a combination of structural investment in digital asset expertise and continued capital commitment to tokenized financial instruments.

Our Assessment

Franklin Templeton has completed the acquisition of 250 Digital, integrated its team and strategies, and launched Franklin Crypto to manage actively structured digital asset products for institutional investors. In parallel, its Benji tokenized asset platform has grown to $2.51 billion in on-chain value, primarily across Ethereum and Stellar, while monthly transfer volumes have declined significantly. The developments indicate organizational expansion in crypto asset management alongside increasing capital concentration in tokenized products.