Franklin Templeton Acquires 250 Digital to Launch Franklin Crypto: Major Expansion in Institutional Digital Asset Strategies

Franklin Templeton Strengthens Digital Asset Platform with Acquisition of 250 Digital and Launch of Franklin Crypto

Franklin Templeton, the global investment leader overseeing more than $1.7 trillion in assets, has reached an agreement to acquire 250 Digital, an active cryptocurrency management firm that recently spun out from venture capital player CoinFund. This strategic step establishes a dedicated division named Franklin Crypto, designed specifically to serve sophisticated institutional clients such as pension plans and sovereign wealth funds with tailored liquid cryptocurrency approaches.

The deal brings over the full 250 Digital investment team along with the liquid crypto strategies originally developed under CoinFund. Leadership of the new unit will combine deep crypto-native experience from Christopher Perkins (as head) and Seth Ginns (as Chief Investment Officer) with Franklin Templeton’s existing digital assets expertise, including veteran Tony Pecore. The team will report to Sandy Kaul, Head of Innovation.

Perkins highlighted the timing:

Crypto’s institutional moment has arrived, and Franklin Crypto will help our global clients navigate this complex and rapidly evolving asset class by delivering the expertise, knowledge and digital asset products that meet their sophisticated investment needs.

Building on Established Digital Assets Presence

Franklin Templeton first engaged with blockchain and digital assets in 2018 and has since assembled a specialized team of approximately 50 professionals. Key milestones include the 2021 launch of its tokenized money market fund BENJI—one of the earliest in the industry—as well as its role among the initial issuers of spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs in the United States in 2024.

The new Franklin Crypto division will complement and broaden these existing offerings, including blockchain-focused venture investments, by adding active liquid strategies. The firm plans to allocate capital directly into these strategies as part of the transaction.

Sandy Kaul noted in comments to The Wall Street Journal that recent market conditions created a compelling window to secure top talent and establish a stable platform for advanced crypto capabilities.

Deal Structure and Timeline

Financial terms of the acquisition remain undisclosed. The transaction is slated to close in the second quarter of 2026, contingent on final agreements, client approvals, and standard regulatory conditions. Notably, BENJI tokens—the shares of Franklin Templeton’s tokenized money market fund—will form part of the payment consideration, representing an innovative use of on-chain assets in a mergers and acquisitions context.

This development underscores the growing convergence between traditional asset management and digital assets, as major institutions seek more structured and professionalized exposure to cryptocurrency markets beyond passive products like ETFs.

The acquisition enhances Franklin Templeton’s ability to provide comprehensive digital asset solutions, positioning the firm to meet rising demand from large-scale investors for actively managed strategies in this maturing asset class.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.