Asset manager Franklin Templeton has announced the acquisition of 250 Digital, a cryptocurrency investment firm spun out of CoinFund. The deal deepens its push into digital assets for institutional clients, bringing in a dedicated team and actively managed liquid crypto strategies.
Under the agreement, Franklin Templeton will absorb the 250 Digital team and allocate capital into their investment strategies, signaling strong conviction in the firm's approach.
BENJI Token Adds On-Chain Flavor to M&A
The transaction is expected to close in Q2 2026, subject to customary conditions. A standout feature: Franklin Templeton plans to use its blockchain-based BENJI token as part of the consideration, a rare instance of integrating on-chain elements into a traditional M&A structure.
Leadership and Institutional Expansion
Post-acquisition, 250 Digital's leadership will lead the newly formed unit, Franklin Crypto. Christopher Perkins takes the helm, Seth Ginns becomes Chief Investment Officer, alongside digital assets veteran Tony Pecore. The unit reports to Sandy Kaul and is set to expand the firm's existing crypto and blockchain venture offerings while building a broader institutional investment platform. Franklin Templeton Digital Assets currently manages roughly $1.8 billion.
CEO Jenny Johnson said the acquisition places the firm among a select group of global asset managers with dedicated, institutional-grade crypto capabilities. Both sides framed the move as a response to surging institutional demand. Perkins called this crypto's "institutional moment," while Ginns highlighted Franklin Templeton's global distribution network as a key driver for scaling adoption.
Tokenization Strategy Broadens Digital Asset Footprint
The deal aligns with Franklin Templeton's deepening focus on tokenization. Recently, it rolled out tokenized ETF offerings with Ondo Finance and worked with Binance on a tokenized money market fund collateral program. These efforts point to a strategy of bringing the $26 billion tokenized real-world asset market into mainstream finance, positioning the firm at the intersection of traditional markets and blockchain infrastructure.