Franklin Templeton's $1.78T Machine Takes on Crypto Active Management

Franklin Templeton closed its acquisition of 250 Digital and launched Franklin Crypto, a dedicated active digital asset management division for institutional clients. The full 250 Digital investment team joins the firm, along with all liquid cryptocurrency strategies previously run by Coinfund. Franklin Templeton said it will invest in those strategies as part of the deal.

Christopher Perkins, a crypto industry veteran, will head Franklin Crypto. Seth Ginns, also from 250 Digital, becomes Chief Investment Officer. They work alongside Tony Pecore, an investment veteran from Franklin Templeton Digital Assets. The division reports to Sandy Kaul, Head of Innovation at Franklin Templeton.

The division is positioned to offer institutional clients actively managed crypto strategies, combining the former 250 Digital team's expertise with Franklin Templeton's global distribution reach. It builds on an existing digital asset unit inside the firm that already handles fundamental research, active portfolio construction, and institutional risk oversight.

Franklin Templeton manages $1.78 trillion in assets as of May 31, 2026, and operates in more than 35 countries. That scale gives Franklin Crypto an immediate distribution advantage that most crypto-native firms cannot replicate. For institutional investors who have been cautious about crypto exposure, a firm with Franklin Templeton's track record and infrastructure offers a different entry point than dealing with a smaller crypto-only manager.