Franklin Templeton Launches Franklin Crypto Division

Two connected modern office buildings, a signed contract with a pen on paper, and a secure server rack with glowing lights.

Franklin Templeton Completes 250 Digital Acquisition – Asset Manager Establishes Dedicated Institutional Crypto Division

Key Takeaways

Franklin Templeton has completed its acquisition of crypto investment firm 250 Digital.
The transaction leads to the launch of a new institutional unit called Franklin Crypto.
Christopher Perkins will lead Franklin Crypto, with Seth Ginns serving as chief investment officer.
Part of the acquisition was settled using BENJI tokens representing shares in Franklin Templeton’s OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund.
The new division targets pensions, sovereign wealth funds, and large asset allocators seeking regulated digital asset exposure.

Franklin Templeton Finalizes Acquisition of 250 Digital

Franklin Templeton has closed its previously announced acquisition of 250 Digital, a crypto investment firm that was spun out of CoinFund Management in January 2026. The completion of the deal marks a structural step by one of the world’s largest asset managers to build an in house digital asset business.

The transaction was first disclosed in April and has now formally concluded. With more than 1.5 trillion dollars in assets under management, Franklin Templeton is integrating the crypto focused team into a newly created division rather than limiting its digital asset exposure to individual funds or exchange traded products.

250 Digital was established at the start of 2026 as a standalone entity carved out of CoinFund. The firm brought together a team specializing in liquid crypto strategies and institutional grade portfolio construction. Through the acquisition, that team now becomes part of Franklin Templeton’s broader platform.

Launch of Franklin Crypto as Institutional Business Line

Alongside the closing of the acquisition, Franklin Templeton has launched a dedicated institutional unit named Franklin Crypto. The new division is designed to serve large professional investors, including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and other major asset allocators.

Christopher Perkins, who led 250 Digital, will head Franklin Crypto. Seth Ginns, previously chief investment officer at 250 Digital, will retain the CIO role within the new structure. Both executives spent years at CoinFund before the spinout of 250 Digital and bring experience in managing digital asset strategies for institutional clients.

According to the announced structure, Franklin Crypto will focus on several segments of the digital asset market. These include liquid token markets, venture exposure, and structured products linked to blockchain infrastructure. The emphasis is on offering exposure through regulated structures that align with the requirements of large institutional investors.

For institutional participants evaluating crypto allocations, the creation of a separate division signals that the asset manager intends to operate digital assets as a standalone capability with its own leadership and mandate.

Acquisition Partly Settled With Tokenized Fund Shares

One notable aspect of the transaction is the form of payment. Franklin Templeton used BENJI tokens as part of the acquisition consideration. BENJI tokens represent on chain shares of the Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund.

Rather than relying solely on cash or conventional securities, the firm used tokenized fund shares recorded on a public blockchain to settle part of the deal. BENJI tokens provide holders with exposure to a regulated U.S. money market fund while operating on blockchain infrastructure developed by Franklin Templeton.

The use of tokenized shares in a financial services merger and acquisition transaction highlights that the firm’s tokenization framework is being applied beyond pilot projects. In this case, blockchain based fund shares functioned as transactional currency within a corporate acquisition.

For market participants monitoring the development of tokenized assets, this structure demonstrates how regulated fund products can be integrated into operational and corporate finance activities.

Franklin Templeton’s Broader Digital Asset Strategy

The acquisition and the launch of Franklin Crypto follow several previous digital asset initiatives by Franklin Templeton. Chief executive officer Jenny Johnson has publicly addressed the impact of blockchain technology on traditional financial models, including its potential to affect fee structures.

In recent years, the firm has filed for a Bitcoin exchange traded fund ahead of broader institutional demand and introduced ETFs that reinvest stock dividends into Bitcoin. The purchase of 250 Digital represents a further step by embedding a crypto native investment team within the organization.

Instead of offering crypto exposure only through specific funds or wrappers, Franklin Templeton is establishing a business line with dedicated management and a defined institutional focus. This approach separates digital asset activities into a structured division with its own investment philosophy and product scope.

For professional investors and market observers, the scale of the firm’s overall asset base provides context for the move. With more than 1.5 trillion dollars under management, allocating resources to a standalone crypto division reflects a formal integration of digital assets into its long term product architecture.

Implications for Institutional Crypto Access

The creation of Franklin Crypto is explicitly aimed at large scale investors seeking exposure through regulated channels. Pensions, sovereign wealth funds, and other asset allocators often require structured products, established compliance frameworks, and experienced portfolio managers.

By combining 250 Digital’s background in liquid crypto strategies with Franklin Templeton’s existing infrastructure, the new division is positioned to offer institutional grade portfolio construction across tokens, venture investments, and blockchain linked financial products.

For readers tracking the institutionalization of digital assets, the transaction illustrates how traditional asset managers are integrating crypto capabilities internally rather than relying exclusively on external partnerships or limited fund offerings.

Our Assessment

Franklin Templeton has completed the acquisition of 250 Digital and simultaneously launched Franklin Crypto as a dedicated institutional division. The transaction includes the use of BENJI tokens, representing on chain shares of a regulated U.S. government money fund, as part of the purchase consideration. With named leadership and a mandate focused on pensions and sovereign investors, the move formalizes digital assets as a distinct business line within a global asset manager overseeing more than 1.5 trillion dollars in assets.