Franklin Templeton has finalized its acquisition of crypto asset manager 250 Digital and established a new division named Franklin Crypto, combining the acquired firm's investment team and strategies with its own digital asset capabilities. The asset manager oversees $1.78 trillion in global assets.
Former 250 Digital executives Christopher Perkins and Seth Ginns will co-lead the unit alongside Tony Pecore, Franklin Templeton's digital assets head. Financial terms were not disclosed. The deal was first announced in April and follows CoinFund's spinout of its liquid strategies business into 250 Digital earlier this year.
Franklin Crypto Expands Institutional Offerings
Through the new division, institutional investors gain access to actively managed crypto strategies backed by the former 250 Digital team and Franklin Templeton's global distribution network. The firm has been adding crypto-related products across its business lines.
Earlier this month, it integrated its BENJI tokenized money market fund with MoonPay Trade, enabling institutional clients to swap stablecoins like USDC and USDT for BENJI via MoonPay's on-chain infrastructure. Days later, Franklin Templeton filed to list two ETFs that would automatically route stock dividend income into Bitcoin-linked investments.
In February, the firm partnered with Binance to let institutional investors use tokenized money market fund shares as collateral for crypto trading while maintaining regulated custody. Subsequently, it teamed up with Ondo Finance to offer tokenized ETFs on blockchain networks, extending access beyond traditional brokerages.
Tokenized Assets Triple in a Year
Franklin Templeton's tokenization business has grown alongside its crypto push. Data from RWA.xyz shows its tokenized assets rose from roughly $768 million in June 2025 to over $2.5 billion today, more than tripling in a year.
Industry-wide, the value of on-chain real-world assets climbed from about $11.8 billion a year ago to $32.2 billion, highlighting accelerating adoption of tokenized financial products. Franklin Templeton operates in over 35 countries and maintains a dedicated digital assets unit for research and risk management. The acquisition strengthens its ability to serve institutional clients seeking crypto exposure.