Franklin Templeton Acquires CoinFund-Linked Firm, Accelerating TradFi’s Crypto Asset Acquisition

Author: DLNews

Translation & Compilation: TechFlow

TechFlow Intro: With over $1.5 trillion in assets under management, Franklin Templeton isn’t just acquiring a company—it’s establishing a dedicated, standalone crypto business unit.

This move comes amid a wave of strategic acquisitions by traditional financial institutions: Mastercard’s $1.8 billion acquisition of stablecoin infrastructure startup BVNK, and Stripe’s acquisition of Bridge, among others. Experts project that crypto M&A volume will exceed $37 billion in 2026.

Franklin Templeton has officially launched its new crypto business unit—Franklin Crypto.

The announcement coincides with another: the investment giant revealed it is acquiring 250 Digital, a crypto investment management firm spun out from CoinFund. The purchase price was not disclosed.

“The institutional era of crypto has arrived. Franklin Crypto will help our global clients navigate this complex and rapidly evolving asset class, delivering expertise, insights, and digital asset products aligned with professional investment standards,” said Christopher Perkins, who will lead the new division, in a statement to DLNews.

This deal follows a recent surge in acquisitions by traditional financial institutions. In March, Mastercard acquired stablecoin infrastructure startup BVNK for $1.8 billion; institutional lender FundBank acquired Irish blockchain startup Trrue Chain for $11 million; and Stripe—the fintech giant valued at $159 billion—acquired stablecoin project Bridge and several other firms.

Experts anticipate that continued acquisitions of blockchain companies by traditional financial institutions will drive total crypto M&A volume beyond the $37 billion achieved in 2025, reaching over $37 billion in 2026.

Franklin Crypto

Franklin Crypto will build upon Franklin Templeton’s existing crypto and blockchain venture investment activities and expand the firm’s digital asset investment management platform. As of December 31 last year, Franklin Templeton Digital Assets managed approximately $1.8 billion in global assets.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of this year.

Franklin Templeton’s ambitions in crypto are no secret. Last December, Robert Crossley, the firm’s Global Industry Advisor, told DLNews that it has observed growing interest from institutional investors.

“We’re seeing more mature investors consider diversification and long-term returns,” Crossley said. “Younger investors are drawn to crypto because it aligns naturally with how they interact with technology and money.”

“As digital assets become mainstream components of financial planning, the gap between these two investor groups is narrowing,” Crossley added.