Global asset management giant Franklin Templeton has announced the deployment of its blockchain-integrated Benji platform onto BNB Chain, signaling a major step in the tokenization of traditional financial products. With $1.6 trillion in assets under management, the firm is leveraging BNB Chain’s low transaction costs and fast finality to expand distribution of tokenized funds to retail and institutional investors alike.
Benji Platform: From Traditional Funds to Onchain Products
Benji is Franklin Templeton’s proprietary blockchain-integrated technology stack that handles trading, management, and administration of token-based investments, bridging onchain infrastructure with familiar operational workflows. In 2021, the firm launched the first U.S.-registered mutual fund to use blockchain for transactions and share records, and has since rolled out onchain products across retail, wealth, institutional, and banking use cases.
The migration to BNB Chain underscores a user-centric strategy: meeting investors where they are active while maintaining robust security and compliance controls. Roger Bayston, head of digital assets at Franklin Templeton, stated: “Our goal is to meet more investors where they’re active, while pushing the boundaries of tokenization with security and compliance at the forefront.” He added, “Together, Franklin Templeton and BNB Chain will work to deliver tokenized assets with greater utility.”
BNB Chain: A Fertile Ground for Real-World Asset Tokenization
BNB Chain positions itself as a venue for real-world assets (RWAs), including money market funds, credit instruments, and public equities. Its pitch centers on fast settlement, low fees, and data tooling for issuers requiring auditability. Sarah Song, head of business development at BNB Chain, commented: “BNB Chain has a purpose-built environment issuers can’t find elsewhere.” She argued that the partnership demonstrates the network’s ability to shoulder regulated products at scale.
For tokenization advocates, this is a step toward fund rails that operate with the simplicity of mobile apps. Franklin Templeton’s move validates the potential of blockchain to reduce operational costs, increase transparency, and enable near-instant settlement in traditional finance.
Market Impact and BNB Price Action
As of September 24, 2025, the native token BNB was trading at approximately $1,016, up 18% against the dollar month-to-date. Three days earlier on September 21, BNB reached $1,079, sitting about 5% below its all-time high. The announcement adds to growing market enthusiasm around real-world asset tokenization, with Franklin Templeton’s entry likely to accelerate institutional adoption of the BNB Chain ecosystem.