Key Takeaways
- • Franklin Templeton has agreed to acquire 250 Digital, a cryptocurrency investment management firm spun out of CoinFund, expanding its digital-asset capabilities under a newly formed Franklin Crypto unit.
- • The 250 Digital team, led by industry veterans Christopher Perkins and Seth Ginns, will integrate with Franklin Templeton's existing Digital Assets division, which manages approximately $1.8 billion in global assets as of December 31, 2025.
- • Franklin Crypto will be co-led by Perkins (head of division), Ginns (Chief Investment Officer), and Tony Pecore (Digital Assets veteran), reporting to Sandy Kaul, Head of Innovation, positioning the firm to target institutional growth across active cryptocurrency strategies.
- • The acquisition includes all liquid cryptocurrency strategies previously managed by CoinFund and represents Franklin Templeton's strategic push to leverage crypto-native expertise alongside its institutional distribution network.
Summary
Franklin Templeton announced on April 1, 2026, its agreement to acquire 250 Digital, an active cryptocurrency investment management firm that was spun out of CoinFund Management LLC. The transaction includes the full 250 Digital investment team and all liquid cryptocurrency strategies previously operated by CoinFund, with Franklin Templeton committing to invest in the strategies as part of the deal structure.
The acquisition creates a new operational unit called Franklin Crypto, which will be led by Christopher Perkins as head of division and Seth Ginns as Chief Investment Officer. Both are financial industry veterans from CoinFund. They will work alongside Tony Pecore, an investment veteran from Franklin Templeton Digital Assets, reporting to Sandy Kaul, Head of Innovation. This leadership structure combines crypto-native expertise with Franklin Templeton's established institutional distribution capabilities to pursue growth in the digital-asset market.
Franklin Templeton Digital Assets, the firm's existing crypto and blockchain venture investment arm, manages approximately $1.8 billion in global assets as of December 31, 2025. The acquisition of 250 Digital and formation of Franklin Crypto will expand this platform and broaden the firm's active digital-assets investment management offerings. CEO Jenny Johnson stated the acquisition represents "an exciting addition for Franklin Templeton," signaling the firm's commitment to deepening its competitive positioning in cryptocurrency and blockchain investment strategies for institutional clients.
The acquisition creates a new operational unit called Franklin Crypto, which will be led by Christopher Perkins as head of division and Seth Ginns as Chief Investment Officer. Both are financial industry veterans from CoinFund. They will work alongside Tony Pecore, an investment veteran from Franklin Templeton Digital Assets, reporting to Sandy Kaul, Head of Innovation. This leadership structure combines crypto-native expertise with Franklin Templeton's established institutional distribution capabilities to pursue growth in the digital-asset market.
Franklin Templeton Digital Assets, the firm's existing crypto and blockchain venture investment arm, manages approximately $1.8 billion in global assets as of December 31, 2025. The acquisition of 250 Digital and formation of Franklin Crypto will expand this platform and broaden the firm's active digital-assets investment management offerings. CEO Jenny Johnson stated the acquisition represents "an exciting addition for Franklin Templeton," signaling the firm's commitment to deepening its competitive positioning in cryptocurrency and blockchain investment strategies for institutional clients.
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