Highlights:
- Franklin Templeton crypto acquisition adds 250 Digital team and expands institutional crypto strategies
- The deal forms Franklin Crypto and integrates leadership and liquid crypto investment strategies
- The transaction is expected to close in Q2 2026 and includes BENJI tokens as part of the consideration.
Franklin Templeton’s crypto acquisition is set to expand the asset manager’s digital assets platform by purchasing 250 Digital, a recently formed spinoff from venture firm CoinFund. The transaction brings 250 Digital’s investment team and its liquid cryptocurrency strategies into Franklin Templeton’s existing digital asset business, where the combined operation will be rebranded as Franklin Crypto after the deal closes.
Franklin Templeton Crypto Acquisition Creates Franklin Crypto
Franklin Templeton, which manages more than $1.7 trillion in assets, said the new unit will target pensions, sovereign wealth funds, and other institutional investors. The company also said it will invest in the strategies covered by the agreement, although it did not disclose the financial terms of the transaction. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to definitive agreements, client consents, and other customary closing conditions.
The Franklin Templeton crypto acquisition will lead to the launch of a new crypto-focused business line, Franklin Crypto. According to the company, the new arm will absorb the 250 Digital investment team and all liquid cryptocurrency strategies that CoinFund previously ran.
Source: Franklin Templeton Digital Assets
The transaction, therefore, adds both personnel and active crypto investment strategies to Franklin Templeton’s current platform. The firm is led by former CoinFund executives Christopher Perkins and Seth Ginns, both of whom will take senior roles within the combined operation after the acquisition is completed.
Christopher Perkins will lead Franklin Crypto, while Seth Ginns will serve as chief investment officer alongside Tony Pecore, a Franklin Templeton digital assets investment veteran. The new leadership structure places the incoming executives alongside an existing Franklin Templeton digital asset specialist. All three executives will report to Sandy Kaul, Franklin Templeton’s head of innovation.
Additionally, the arrangement reflects an integration model in which the newly acquired unit will operate within Franklin Templeton’s broader innovation and digital assets framework rather than as a separate, standalone platform. Franklin Templeton said Franklin Crypto will expand the firm’s existing crypto and blockchain venture capital investment offerings and broaden its digital assets investment management platform. The statement tied the new entity directly to the firm’s existing operations rather than presenting it as a new market entry.
Digital Asset Platform Expands With Existing Franklin Operations
The Franklin Templeton crypto acquisition adds to a digital asset business that the company has been building for several years. Franklin Templeton first entered the crypto industry in 2018. However, Franklin Templeton launched that tokenized money market fund in 2021. The company said the transaction with 250 Digital will incorporate BENJI tokens as payment consideration, linking one of its existing tokenized products to the acquisition structure.
Franklin Templeton’s digital asset arm currently manages about $1.8 billion in assets. The company is also known for launching spot digital asset exchange-traded funds in the United States. In addition, it was among the issuers of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds when those products launched in January 2024. It was also among the first issuers of spot Ethereum exchange-traded funds when those products launched in July 2024.
These earlier steps form the foundation for 250 Digital’s integration. The Franklin Templeton crypto acquisition, therefore, adds a new layer to a platform that already includes tokenized fund products, exchange-traded fund exposure, and a dedicated internal team focused on digital assets.
Leadership Roles Shift Under Franklin Crypto Structure
The transaction also brings a clear change in how 250 Digital’s leadership will operate after the close. Christopher Perkins, who helped lead 250 Digital after its January spinoff from CoinFund, will become the head of Franklin Crypto. Seth Ginns, another former CoinFund executive, will become chief investment officer within the new structure.
Tony Pecore, who has already been part of Franklin Templeton’s digital assets investment business, will co-lead investment responsibilities alongside Ginns. That arrangement combines external crypto investment experience from 250 Digital with Franklin Templeton’s existing internal digital asset expertise.
The structure also places Sandy Kaul in a direct supervisory role over the new operation. As head of innovation, Kaul will oversee the unit as Franklin Templeton broadens its crypto investment platform for institutional clients.
Market Conditions Set the Timing for the Deal
The Franklin Templeton crypto acquisition comes amid weaker crypto market prices. Bitcoin is down about 45% from its peak above $126,000 recorded in October 2025. Franklin Templeton linked the timing of the deal to the current market environment, while indicating that it sees an opening to expand during the downturn.
Sandy Kaul told The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news, that the recent selloff influenced the decision to move forward. Kaul said the decline in crypto markets created a distinct opportunity and contributed to the conclusion that it was the right time to proceed. She also said the market downturn could lead to increased interest in creating a more stable home for top crypto trading talent.
