Franklin Templeton said today that it plans to acquire 250 Digital, a cryptocurrency investment firm formed by CoinFund, to expand its digital asset platform. The deal brings Christopher Perkins and Seth Gaines to the company to lead a new enterprise crypto unit. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, pending approvals and agreements.
Franklin Templeton builds a custom encryption module
According to Revealed todayFranklin Templeton will merge the 250 Digital team and its Liquid Crypto Strategies into a newly formed division called Franklin Crypto. Perkins will lead the unit, while Jeans will serve as chief investment officer. Tony Pecor will also join the leadership, working alongside the new executives.
The new department will report to Sandy Cowell, Chief Innovation Officer. This will expand the company’s capabilities in the field of cryptocurrencies and blockchain. In addition, it will enhance the digital asset investment management platform for institutional clients.
Franklin Templeton Digital Assets managed approximately $1.8 billion in assets as of December 31, 2025. The company also maintains a digital assets team of more than 50 professionals. This structure supports both investment and technical development across blockchain systems.
Transaction structure and cross-chain payment
The acquisition involves Franklin Templeton investing directly in strategies previously managed by CoinFund. As CoinGape reported, Franklin Templeton is betting big on XRP. Terms of the latest deal were not disclosed. However, the transaction offers an on-chain payment component using BENJI tokens.
BENJI represents the US government’s Franklin OnChain Fund of Funds (FOBXX), which was launched in 2021. The fund uses blockchain technology to process transactions and record stock ownership. It represents the first mutual fund registered in the United States with this structure.
The use of BENJI tokens in the acquisition of Franklin Templeton marks a change in how transactions are carried out. It connects the conclusion of traditional financing deals with blockchain-based settlement systems. This structure is consistent with the company’s ongoing work in tokenized assets.
Institutional focus and market conditions
The new Franklin Crypto unit will target pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and large institutions. It will provide exposure to digital assets through regulated investment structures. Strategies will include liquid tokens, venture investments, and blockchain-related products.
Institutional demand for exposure to cryptocurrencies continues despite the market declining with Bitcoin price It fell by almost half from the record. At the same time, the overall market value of digital assets has shrunk.
However, large asset managers continue to expand their product and infrastructure offerings. Franklin Templeton has partnered with Binance to enable tokenized fund shares as trading collateral.
Additionally, last week Franklin Templeton announced a partnership with Ondo Finance to support tokenized ETFs accessible through cryptocurrency wallets. These developments connect traditional financial products with blockchain systems.
