Wall Street asset manager Franklin Templeton is launching a dedicated cryptocurrency division, “Franklin Crypto,” alongside a planned acquisition of crypto investment firm 250 Digital.
The move brings together the 250 Digital team and its liquid crypto strategies under a single structure focused on institutional investors, led by former CoinFund executive Christopher Perkins.
This marks a clear evolution in how large asset managers are approaching digital assets. It’s no longer just about passive exposure through ETFs. Firms are now building in-house capabilities to deliver active strategies and deeper market participation.
Importantly, this builds on Franklin Templeton’s existing digital asset footprint, signalling a shift toward more integrated and sophisticated offerings for institutional clients.
There’s also a notable innovation angle. Part of the transaction will be conducted using BENJI tokens, linked to an on-chain U.S. Government Money Fund. It’s an early example of how tokenised assets could be used in areas like M&A, with settlement and ownership recorded directly on blockchain infrastructure.
Taken together, this reflects a broader trend. Large financial institutions are moving beyond initial entry points into crypto and embedding it within core strategy, from investment products to operational rails.
