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Franklin Templeton Expands Its Crypto Push With 250 Digital Acquisition

With its acquisition of 250 Digital, Franklin Templeton is launching Franklin Crypto, a new division for active digital asset management. The move highlights growing institutional demand for regulated crypto exposure.

By Luc Vesters
• 2 min read
Franklin Templeton Expands Its Crypto Push With 250 Digital Acquisition

Key Takeaways

  • Franklin Templeton completed its acquisition of 250 Digital on June 22, 2026, and launched Franklin Crypto.
  • The new division actively manages digital assets and brings in the full team and liquid crypto strategies from 250 Digital.
  • Franklin Crypto is focused on institutional clients and is responding to growing demand for regulated, actively managed crypto exposure.

Franklin Templeton completed its acquisition of 250 Digital on June 22, 2026, officially launching Franklin Crypto, a new division focused on active digital asset management. With $1.78 trillion in assets under management, the asset manager is bringing crypto-native strategies into its institutional infrastructure to meet growing demand from large investors.

Acquisition and Integration of 250 Digital

The acquisition includes the full investment team from 250 Digital and all liquid crypto strategies that were previously under CoinFund. Franklin Templeton will invest capital directly into these strategies, wrapping up the deal that was announced in April 2026. This move highlights Franklin Templeton's multi-year commitment to digital assets, building on earlier blockchain initiatives since 2018. For example, in 2021 the company launched one of the first U.S.-registered funds to use public blockchains for transactions and shareholder records.

New Leadership and Institutional Scale

Christopher Perkins leads Franklin Crypto as head, with Seth Ginns serving as Chief Investment Officer. Together, they work closely with Tony Pecore, a veteran at Franklin Templeton Digital Assets. The division reports to Sandy Kaul, Head of Innovation. CEO Jenny Johnson said adding the 250 Digital team significantly strengthens Franklin Templeton's crypto expertise and product lineup, setting it apart as one of the few global asset managers with dedicated institutional crypto investment management.

Franklin Crypto builds on the company's existing digital assets unit, which focuses on fundamental research, active portfolio management, and institution-level risk management. The new division is aimed at institutional clients looking for actively managed exposure to cryptocurrencies within a regulated, globally distributed framework. By combining specialized crypto execution with Franklin Templeton's established infrastructure and client base, the division is meeting rising demand for more advanced digital asset products.

Why This Matters for European Investors

Franklin Templeton's expansion into the crypto market through Franklin Crypto could matter for European institutional investors looking for regulated and actively managed crypto exposure. The mix of crypto-native strategies and an established institutional infrastructure may point to growing professionalism and easier access to digital asset investing within traditional financial frameworks, including outside the United States.

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