Key Takeaways
- • Franklin Templeton is acquiring 250 Digital, a cryptocurrency investment management firm, for an undisclosed sum, with closing expected in Q2 2026.
- • The deal includes 250 Digital's investment team and all liquid cryptocurrency strategies previously operated by CoinFund, significantly expanding Franklin Templeton's crypto capabilities.
- • Christopher Perkins, CoinFund president and 250 Digital CEO, will lead the newly formed Franklin Crypto unit alongside Seth Ginns and Tony Pecore.
- • Part of the acquisition consideration will be paid in BENJI tokens, digital asset securities representing shares of Franklin Templeton's blockchain-based mutual fund—a novel settlement structure.
- • Franklin Templeton Digital Assets currently manages approximately $1.8 billion in assets and has built a digital-asset team of more than 50 employees since 2018, positioning the firm to offer expanded crypto and blockchain venture-capital products to institutional investors.
Summary
Franklin Templeton has announced plans to acquire 250 Digital, an active cryptocurrency investment management firm, in a strategic move to consolidate its growing digital assets business. The deal, announced Wednesday with an undisclosed purchase price, is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026. Among the key assets being acquired are 250 Digital's investment team and all liquid cryptocurrency strategies previously operated by CoinFund, according to the companies' joint release.
The transaction brings together complementary crypto expertise under a unified Franklin Crypto unit. Christopher Perkins, who served as president of CoinFund and currently leads 250 Digital as CEO, will head the newly established division alongside fellow CoinFund alumnus Seth Ginns and Franklin Templeton Digital Assets executive Tony Pecore. Perkins underscored the strategic rationale in a statement, noting that "crypto's institutional moment has arrived" and that Franklin Crypto will deliver expertise and digital asset products to meet the sophisticated investment needs of global clients navigating this complex asset class.
A distinctive feature of the acquisition structure is that part of the consideration will be settled in BENJI tokens, digital asset securities representing shares of Franklin Templeton's blockchain-based mutual fund. This payment mechanism reflects the company's commitment to leveraging blockchain infrastructure within its own corporate transactions.
The acquisition builds on Franklin Templeton's established presence in digital assets. Since 2018, the firm has developed a dedicated digital-asset team of more than 50 employees and was among approximately 10 asset managers to launch U.S.-listed bitcoin exchange-traded funds in 2024. As of December 31, Franklin Templeton Digital Assets managed approximately $1.8 billion in assets. Franklin Crypto aims to provide an expanded suite of cryptocurrency and blockchain venture-capital products tailored for institutional clients including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and other sophisticated investors. Skadden is advising Franklin Templeton on the transaction.
The transaction brings together complementary crypto expertise under a unified Franklin Crypto unit. Christopher Perkins, who served as president of CoinFund and currently leads 250 Digital as CEO, will head the newly established division alongside fellow CoinFund alumnus Seth Ginns and Franklin Templeton Digital Assets executive Tony Pecore. Perkins underscored the strategic rationale in a statement, noting that "crypto's institutional moment has arrived" and that Franklin Crypto will deliver expertise and digital asset products to meet the sophisticated investment needs of global clients navigating this complex asset class.
A distinctive feature of the acquisition structure is that part of the consideration will be settled in BENJI tokens, digital asset securities representing shares of Franklin Templeton's blockchain-based mutual fund. This payment mechanism reflects the company's commitment to leveraging blockchain infrastructure within its own corporate transactions.
The acquisition builds on Franklin Templeton's established presence in digital assets. Since 2018, the firm has developed a dedicated digital-asset team of more than 50 employees and was among approximately 10 asset managers to launch U.S.-listed bitcoin exchange-traded funds in 2024. As of December 31, Franklin Templeton Digital Assets managed approximately $1.8 billion in assets. Franklin Crypto aims to provide an expanded suite of cryptocurrency and blockchain venture-capital products tailored for institutional clients including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and other sophisticated investors. Skadden is advising Franklin Templeton on the transaction.
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