Franklin Templeton
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Franklin Templeton in the news
Franklin Templeton (BEN) Could Be 5% Undervalued On Dividend And Tokenized Fund Expansion
Franklin Templeton has expanded the distribution of its Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Liquidity Fund (FOBXX) to professional digital asset investors in Asia via the HashKey Exchange. This strategic move leverages the firm's established presence in tokenized funds to capture growing demand for blockchain-based yield products. The fund, which maintains a significant portion of its assets in U.S. government securities, serves as a bridge between traditional finance and digital asset ecosystems. Despite recent short-term volatility in the company's share price, Franklin Templeton reports that its tokenized product expansion is contributing to broader assets under management growth, which currently stands at $1.83 billion. The integration of tokenized offerings into global platforms like HashKey highlights the firm's commitment to scaling its digital asset infrastructure. This development is significant for the RWA market as it demonstrates the increasing institutional appetite for regulated, on-chain financial products across international jurisdictions. By providing professional investors with access to tokenized government liquidity, Franklin Templeton continues to solidify its position as a leader in the institutional adoption of blockchain technology.
Vanguard and Wellington test tokenised collateral, CIMB pilots sukuk settlement
Vanguard and Wellington Management successfully tested the use of tokenized money-market fund shares as collateral on the Canton Network, integrating them into Nasdaq’s existing Calypso collateral management system. This trial demonstrated that tokenized assets can function within traditional margin, eligibility, and post-trade workflows without requiring separate digital infrastructure. Simultaneously, CIMB utilized tokenized deposits to settle MYR 1.38 billion in tokenized sukuk, highlighting progress in atomic settlement capabilities. Coinbase expanded its offerings by launching tokenized versions of major U.S. stocks like Apple and Nvidia on the Base blockchain, operating under Abu Dhabi Global Market oversight for non-U.S. investors. These developments collectively signal a shift toward integrating tokenized assets into established financial systems rather than creating isolated silos. While these pilots prove technical feasibility, they also underscore the ongoing challenge of achieving industry-wide interoperability and demonstrating the economic scalability of tokenization. The industry remains focused on whether these tokenized instruments can eventually replace or augment traditional collateral and settlement processes at scale.
KBW2026 to Bring Franklin Templeton, Northern Trust, Moody’s to Seoul for Onchain Finance Talks
The Korea Blockchain Week 2026 (KBW2026) will feature high-level discussions on the future of onchain finance, highlighting the growing institutional interest in tokenized assets. Key industry leaders, including representatives from Franklin Templeton, Northern Trust, and Moody’s, are scheduled to convene in Seoul to address the integration of traditional financial systems with blockchain technology. Franklin Templeton, a pioneer in tokenized money market funds, will provide insights into the scalability of onchain investment vehicles. Northern Trust and Moody’s are expected to contribute expertise regarding the institutional infrastructure and credit assessment frameworks necessary for the maturation of the RWA sector. This gathering underscores South Korea's strategic ambition to become a global hub for digital asset innovation and institutional adoption. By facilitating direct dialogue between global asset managers and blockchain developers, the event aims to bridge the gap between legacy finance and decentralized protocols. The participation of these major financial entities signals a shift toward standardized, regulated onchain financial products that could significantly increase liquidity and transparency in global markets.
Franklin Templeton's Tokenized Treasury Fund Lands on HashKey
Franklin Templeton has expanded the distribution of its Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Liquidity Fund (BENJI) by listing it on the Hong Kong-based HashKey Exchange. This integration allows professional investors on the platform to access a blockchain-wrapped pool of U.S. government debt and cash assets. Originally launched in 2021, the fund holds the distinction of being the first U.S.-registered mutual fund to utilize a public blockchain for recording share ownership. The move reflects a broader institutional strategy to meet demand for compliant, real-world asset yields across global markets including Singapore, Tokyo, Dubai, and Bermuda. Franklin Templeton is actively diversifying its digital asset footprint through strategic collaborations with entities like Kraken, Binance, DigiFT, and MoonPay. Furthermore, the firm is exploring on-chain corporate finance, recently utilizing BENJI tokens to facilitate the acquisition of 250 Digital. This expansion underscores the growing trend of traditional asset managers leveraging blockchain infrastructure to modernize fund distribution and settlement.
HashKey Unlocks Franklin Templeton Tokenized Fund in Asia
HashKey Capital has announced a strategic partnership with Franklin Templeton to provide Asian investors with access to the Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund. This initiative marks a significant expansion for the $420 million fund, which utilizes the Stellar blockchain to record share ownership and maintain transparency. By integrating this tokenized product into the HashKey platform, the firms aim to bridge the gap between traditional institutional-grade financial instruments and the digital asset ecosystem in Asia. The collaboration leverages Franklin Templeton's extensive experience in asset management alongside HashKey's regional regulatory compliance and distribution infrastructure. This move reflects a broader trend of major asset managers seeking to capture demand for yield-bearing, blockchain-native financial products. As regulatory frameworks in jurisdictions like Hong Kong continue to evolve, such partnerships provide a blueprint for compliant cross-border distribution of tokenized securities. The integration underscores the growing institutional confidence in distributed ledger technology for managing regulated investment vehicles.
Franklin Templeton Wins SEC Staff Relief for Its $721M Onchain Fund
Franklin Templeton has received SEC staff clearance to integrate its $721 million blockchain-based money market fund, the Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund (FOBXX), into its conventional mutual funds and ETFs. This development marks a significant milestone as the first U.S. regulatory relief allowing digitally native products to be held within traditional investment portfolios. The SEC staff provided this relief by setting aside specific custody provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, provided that Franklin Templeton adheres to twelve strict operational conditions. These conditions include annual board reviews, independent public accountant verification of holdings, and the retention of administrative control over smart contracts by Franklin Templeton Investor Services. By utilizing the Stellar blockchain, the firm aims to use these tokenized shares for cash balances and securities lending collateral. This move bridges the gap between legacy financial structures and blockchain-based assets, potentially increasing the utility of tokenized funds. The decision sets a precedent for other investment managers, as the SEC's letter explicitly names 23 additional firms that could benefit from similar arrangements.
Does Franklin Templeton’s Tokenized Fund Push in Asia Reshape Its Long-Term Strategy Narrative (BEN)?
Franklin Templeton has entered a strategic partnership with HashKey to expand the distribution of its tokenized Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Liquidity Fund (BENJI) into regulated Asian markets. This move represents a significant effort by the asset manager to leverage blockchain technology to drive growth and operational efficiency amid broader corporate challenges. While the firm faces pressure from fee compression and outflows at its Western Asset Management division, the integration of digital assets is positioned as a key innovation pillar. The expansion into Asia is intended to capture new investor segments, though analysts remain divided on whether these digital initiatives can scale quickly enough to materially impact the company's long-term financial performance. Franklin Templeton projects revenue of $9.3 billion and earnings of $1.4 billion by 2029, relying on its digital strategy to help stabilize its product mix. Ultimately, the success of this tokenization push is viewed as a critical test for the firm's ability to modernize its business model while navigating core operational risks. The partnership highlights the growing institutional trend of utilizing tokenized government securities to maintain competitive relevance in global financial markets.
Franklin Templeton Expands Tokenized Money Market Fund Into Asia Through HashKey
Franklin Templeton has officially expanded its tokenized money market fund, the Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund (FOBXX), into the Asian market through a strategic partnership with HashKey Group. This expansion allows qualified investors in the region to access the fund, which is built on the Stellar blockchain, via HashKey's digital asset platform. By leveraging HashKey's regulatory compliance and infrastructure, Franklin Templeton aims to bridge the gap between traditional financial instruments and decentralized finance for Asian institutional and professional clients. The FOBXX fund, which maintains a stable net asset value of $1 per share, represents a significant milestone in the global adoption of tokenized U.S. Treasuries. This move underscores the growing demand for blockchain-based yield-bearing assets outside of North America. As major asset managers continue to integrate blockchain technology, this partnership signals a broader trend of institutionalizing RWA tokenization on a global scale. The integration provides Asian investors with a regulated, transparent, and efficient way to gain exposure to U.S. government securities through digital tokens.
Franklin Templeton Gets SEC Relief to Bring Tokenized Funds Into Traditional Portfolios
Franklin Templeton has secured regulatory relief from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, enabling the integration of its tokenized investment funds into traditional brokerage portfolios. This development marks a significant shift in the accessibility of blockchain-based assets, as it allows financial advisors to incorporate the Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund (FOBXX) directly into standard client accounts. By bridging the gap between decentralized ledger technology and legacy financial infrastructure, the firm aims to streamline the operational workflow for wealth managers. The SEC's decision removes a critical friction point that previously hindered the adoption of tokenized securities within mainstream investment vehicles. This move signals a growing institutional confidence in the interoperability of RWA protocols with existing custodial frameworks. As a result, investors can now gain exposure to tokenized government debt without navigating the complexities of self-custody or specialized digital asset platforms. This milestone underscores the broader industry trend of normalizing tokenized assets as legitimate components of diversified, traditional investment strategies.
HashKey Exchange and Franklin Templeton to Bring OnChain U.S. Government Liquidity Fund to Asia
HashKey Exchange and Franklin Templeton have partnered to distribute the Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Liquidity Fund (grBENJI) to digital asset investors in Asia. Starting August 24, 2026, the fund is available via the HashKey Exchange Earn Channel, providing eligible professional investors access to U.S. government money market instruments and cash assets. This collaboration leverages blockchain-enabled infrastructure to bridge traditional financial markets with compliant digital asset ecosystems. By integrating Franklin Templeton’s flagship tokenized fund into HashKey’s regulated platform, the initiative addresses growing institutional demand for transparent, yield-generating real-world assets. The move marks a significant expansion for Franklin Templeton’s digital asset strategy, utilizing HashKey’s multi-jurisdictional presence across Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Dubai, and Bermuda. Both companies intend to explore further tokenized product offerings, signaling a broader trend of institutional adoption in Asian capital markets. This development establishes a new benchmark for compliant, on-chain investment solutions in the region.
Franklin Templeton's $726 Million Tokenized Fund Wins SEC Clearance to Enter $872 Billion of ETFs and Mutual Funds
On August 12, 2026, the SEC issued a no-action letter allowing Franklin Templeton to integrate its tokenized Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund (BENJI) into its broader suite of mutual funds and ETFs. This regulatory clearance permits Franklin’s $872 billion in registered fund assets to utilize BENJI for cash management and as collateral in securities lending programs. The SEC staff determined that blockchain-based records function as a modern equivalent to traditional book-entry systems, provided that an affiliated transfer agent maintains administrative control. By leveraging multiparty computation and multisignature techniques, Franklin Templeton ensures custodial authority remains intact, satisfying the SEC's requirements for investor protection. This development marks a significant shift, moving tokenized assets from a niche crypto-native product into the core plumbing of traditional retail investment vehicles. While the relief is specific to Franklin’s internal structure, it establishes a critical precedent for how tokenized funds can be integrated into regulated investment products. As other fund sponsors analyze the twelve mandatory operating conditions, this move signals a broader evolution in how institutional capital manages liquidity and settlement efficiency.
Franklin Templeton Gets SEC Clearance for Funds to Hold Tokenized Assets
Franklin Templeton has received a no-action letter from the SEC, allowing its traditional investment funds to hold shares of its blockchain-based Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund. This regulatory relief, issued on August 12, permits the firm to utilize its own investor services as a custodian for these tokenized assets under specific conditions. By integrating the BENJI-tokenized fund into conventional portfolios like mutual funds and ETFs, Franklin Templeton aims to enhance cash management precision and improve yield generation. The firm expects to begin implementing this structure as early as the fourth quarter, pending individual fund board approvals. This development marks a significant step in bridging the gap between traditional finance and blockchain-based recordkeeping. The OnChain fund, which operates on the Stellar blockchain, currently manages nearly $2 billion in assets. This move signals a broader institutional shift toward using tokenized money market funds as efficient collateral and liquidity tools within established financial products.
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