Franklin Templeton, a global asset manager with nearly $1.78 trillion in assets, closed its acquisition of crypto firm 250 Digital and launched a new division called Franklin Crypto. The deal was announced in April 2026 and completed on June 22. The new unit combines 250 Digital's team and crypto strategies with Franklin Templeton's distribution network across more than 35 countries.
How 250 Digital Was Formed
250 Digital was created in early 2026 after crypto investment firm CoinFund decided to split its business. CoinFund spun off its liquid strategies unit to focus on venture investing. The resulting firm specialized in active management of liquid crypto assets.
Franklin Templeton announced the acquisition shortly after 250 Digital launched. The financial terms were not disclosed. The deal brought Franklin Templeton the full investment team and crypto strategy portfolio from 250 Digital. For a large asset manager, it was a ready entry point into active crypto markets without building a team from scratch.
Before the deal closed, 250 Digital had already shaped its own approach to managing liquid crypto positions. Christopher Perkins and Seth Ginns, who led the firm, built strategies aimed at institutional clients. That expertise was the main asset Franklin Templeton acquired.
The Team Behind Franklin Crypto
Three executives will lead the new unit. Christopher Perkins and Seth Ginns move over from 250 Digital, where they held senior roles. They are joined by Tony Pecore, who previously ran digital assets at Franklin Templeton. The team brings together active crypto management experience and deep knowledge of regulated financial markets.
Franklin Crypto targets institutional investors and will offer actively managed crypto strategies through Franklin Templeton's global network. The unit is not starting from scratch: Franklin Templeton already runs a separate team focused on digital asset research, portfolio construction, and risk management. Franklin Crypto adds a commercial layer on top of that foundation.
Combining the two teams shortens the path from analysis to product. The research staff and portfolio managers from 250 Digital will now work inside the same organization. Franklin Templeton gains a broader service offering for institutional clients, moving beyond passive products like ETFs.
Tokenized Portfolio Tripled in a Year
The 250 Digital deal arrived as the tokenized asset market was expanding quickly. Franklin Templeton's tokenized fund holdings tripled over the past year, from $768 million to over $2.5 billion. RWA.xyz data shows the sharpest growth came in the second half of 2025 and continued into 2026.
The broader onchain RWA market grew from $11.8 billion to $32.2 billion over the same period. Growth spread across nearly every segment, from tokenized bonds to private credit and money market funds. Franklin Templeton entered this space earlier than most large managers and is now seeing returns on that early position.
The firm's tokenized assets span multiple blockchains. That spread widens access for different types of institutional participants and reduces dependence on a single network. Institutional demand for these products keeps growing, and Franklin Templeton has built a head start.
Deals With Binance, Ondo Finance, and Bitcoin ETFs
The 250 Digital purchase capped a series of moves Franklin Templeton made in 2026. In February, the firm struck a deal with Binance: institutional clients got the ability to use tokenized money market fund shares as collateral for crypto trading. The assets stay in regulated custody while their collateral value is reflected in the exchange's trading system.
In March, Franklin Templeton partnered with Ondo Finance to offer tokenized ETFs on blockchain networks. Last week, the company filed for two ETFs that would reinvest stock dividends into Bitcoin-linked instruments. These products target investors who want crypto exposure through familiar financial structures.
Taken together, these moves show a firm steadily building infrastructure for the institutional crypto market. The Franklin Crypto launch after closing the 250 Digital deal is a logical end point for a year-long strategy.
Comments
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *