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Franklin Templeton Formalizes Crypto Division with 250 Digital Acquisition

A $1.78 trillion asset manager is now running active digital asset strategies in-house — another sign traditional finance is done treating crypto as a side experiment.

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Franklin Templeton has completed its acquisition of 250 Digital, finalizing a transaction first announced in April 2026 and formally establishing Franklin Crypto — a dedicated active digital asset management division, the firm said in a statement.

The deal, closed on June 22, brings 250 Digital's full investment team and its portfolio of liquid cryptocurrency strategies — previously managed under CoinFund — under Franklin Templeton's umbrella. Franklin Templeton will also allocate capital directly into those strategies. The new division will operate under the oversight of Sandy Kaul, the firm's head of innovation, and combine 250 Digital's crypto-native investment approach with Franklin Templeton's global client network and distribution infrastructure.

Christopher Perkins has been named head of Franklin Crypto. Seth Ginns, a co-founder of 250 Digital, will serve as chief investment officer, alongside Tony Pecore from Franklin Templeton's existing digital assets team.

The move builds on Franklin Templeton's established digital assets infrastructure, which already includes a dedicated group handling fundamental research, portfolio construction, and institutional-level risk management across digital asset classes. The new division targets large institutional allocators seeking actively managed crypto exposure.

Franklin Templeton, founded in 1947, manages approximately $1.78 trillion in assets under management as of May 31, 2026, across more than 35 countries.

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