Franklin Templeton is set to acquire 250 Digital, an active cryptocurrency investment management firm, and launch Franklin Crypto.
The acquisition would include the 250 Digital investment team and all liquid cryptocurrency strategies previously run by CoinFund LLC. Franklin Templeton will invest in the strategies as part of the agreement.
250 Digital is a spinoff of CoinFund.
Crypto industry veterans Christopher Perkins and Seth Ginns will co-lead Franklin Crypto alongside Tony Pecore, strengthening active management capabilities across the multi-trillion-dollar digital asset market.
Perkins currently works as CEO of 250 Digital while Ginns is managing partner and head of liquid investments at CoinFund. Pecore is SVP and director of digital asset management at Franklin Templeton.
Following the acquisition of 250 Digital, Perkins will head the division and Ginns will serve as chief investment officer, leading the newly formed Franklin Crypto unit alongside Pecore.
Reporting to Sandy Kaul, head of innovation for Franklin Templeton, Franklin Crypto will expand Franklin Templeton’s existing suite of crypto and blockchain VC investment offerings and will broaden the firm’s digital assets investment management platform.
Franklin Templeton Digital Assets manages approximately $1.8 billion in global assets as of 31 December, 2025.
“This is an exciting addition for Franklin Templeton, and we’re pleased to welcome Chris, Seth and the 250 Digital team to our firm,” said Jenny Johnson, CEO of Franklin Templeton.
“Together, their investment talent and differentiated strategies strengthen our capabilities in digital assets and position us among a small group of global asset managers with a dedicated, institutional-grade crypto investment management team, enhancing our ability to serve clients worldwide.”
Perkins added: “Crypto’s institutional moment has arrived, and Franklin Crypto will help our global clients navigate this complex and rapidly evolving asset class by delivering the expertise, knowledge and digital asset products that meet their sophisticated investment needs.”
The transaction is expected to close in Q2 2026, subject to the execution of definitive transaction agreements, client consents and other customary closing conditions.
Last week, Franklin Templeton partnered with Ondo Finance to make five of its ETFs available in tokenised form through Ondo Global Markets.
