Franklin Templeton creates Franklin Crypto: the giant with $1.78 trillion in assets bets on active strategies
A management company with $1.78 trillion in assets under management has officially completed the acquisition of 250 Digital on June 22, 2026. This move marks not just another acquisition, but the birth of a new strategic division — Franklin Crypto. It is a full-fledged department for managing digital assets, combining the giant's own developments with institutional infrastructure to meet growing demand from large investors.
Deal Completion and Team Integration
As part of the deal, the entire 250 Digital team and all liquid cryptocurrency strategies previously managed through CoinFund are transferred to the direct management of Franklin Templeton. The company will now directly invest its capital in these strategies. Thus, the deal announced on April 1, 2026, has been closed. This is a logical continuation of Franklin Templeton's long-term plans for development in the digital assets space — the company has been experimenting with blockchain technologies since 2018 and launched one of the first funds in the U.S. using public blockchains for purchase and sale operations and recording ownership rights to shares.
Key Team of the New Division
Christopher Perkins has taken the position of head of Franklin Crypto, and Seth Ginns has become the Chief Investment Officer. They work in partnership with Franklin Templeton Digital Assets veteran Tony Pecora. The division reports to Sandy Kaul, head of innovation. CEO Jenny Johnson noted that the experience and approaches of the 250 Digital team enhance the company's capabilities in the digital assets space and position Franklin Templeton among the few global managers with their own team for institutional cryptocurrency strategies.
Institutional Scale and Active Crypto Strategies
As of May 31, 2026, Franklin Templeton's assets under management totaled $1.78 trillion. Franklin Crypto directly leverages the expertise of Franklin Templeton's own digital team, focusing on fundamental research, active portfolio management, and an institutional approach to risk management. The new division is aimed at institutional clients interested in active cryptocurrency strategies within a regulated framework and broad geographic presence.
Franklin Crypto combines professional execution in the crypto market with Franklin Templeton's proven infrastructure and client base. The division plans to launch active cryptocurrency strategies for institutional investors worldwide.
My comment: This move is not just an expansion, but a signal of market maturity. When a manager with trillions of dollars creates a separate division for active digital asset management, it indicates that cryptocurrency is ceasing to be an experiment and is becoming a standard tool for an institutional portfolio. The integration of the 250 Digital team is an acquisition not so much of technology, but of expertise in active management, which is critical for attracting conservative capital.