Franklin Templeton Acquires Liquid Strategies, Launches Franklin Crypto

Crypto veterans Christopher Perkins and Seth Ginns to co-lead new digital assets unit alongside Franklin Templeton's Tony Pecore

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:19pm

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Franklin Templeton, a global investment leader, announced plans to acquire 250 Digital, an active cryptocurrency investment management firm led by Christopher Perkins and Seth Ginns of CoinFund Management LLC. The acquisition will include the 250 Digital investment team and all liquid cryptocurrency strategies previously run by CoinFund. Following the acquisition, Perkins will head the division and Ginns will serve as Chief Investment Officer, leading the newly formed Franklin Crypto unit alongside Franklin Templeton Digital Assets investment veteran Tony Pecore.

Why it matters

This acquisition strengthens Franklin Templeton's capabilities in the rapidly growing digital assets market, positioning the firm as a leader in institutional-grade crypto investment management. The combination of crypto-native expertise from Perkins and Ginns with Franklin Templeton's global distribution and resources aims to deliver sophisticated crypto investment products and services to meet growing client demand.

The details

As part of the agreement, Franklin Templeton will invest in the liquid cryptocurrency strategies previously run by CoinFund. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, and will incorporate BENJI tokens as part of the payment consideration, marking an innovative step toward conducting M&A transactions on-chain.

  • The transaction is expected to close in the second calendar quarter of 2026.

The players

Franklin Templeton

A global investment leader with over $1.7 trillion in assets under management as of February 2026.

Christopher Perkins

Co-head of the newly formed Franklin Crypto unit and former leader of the 250 Digital investment team.

Seth Ginns

Chief Investment Officer of the newly formed Franklin Crypto unit and former co-founder of CoinFund Management LLC.

Tony Pecore

Investment veteran at Franklin Templeton Digital Assets, who will join Perkins and Ginns in leading the Franklin Crypto unit.

250 Digital

An active cryptocurrency investment management firm that is being acquired by Franklin Templeton.

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What they’re saying

“This is an exciting addition for Franklin Templeton, and we're pleased to welcome Chris, Seth and the 250 Digital team to our firm. 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.”

— Jenny Johnson, CEO of Franklin Templeton

“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. In partnership with Seth, Tony and our teams, we will position Franklin Crypto as the global leader in digital asset management.”

— Christopher Perkins, Co-head of Franklin Crypto

“We're thrilled to join Franklin Templeton and work alongside visionary leaders including Jenny and Sandy, who have cemented the firm as an early mover and clear leader in the crypto ecosystem as blockchain technology builders, node operators, thought leaders and active crypto managers. We share a long-term vision, and with the client-centric culture and distribution strengths of Franklin Templeton, we are well positioned to expand our collective reach and accelerate the growth and adoption of our strategies globally.”

— Seth Ginns, Chief Investment Officer of Franklin Crypto

What’s next

The transaction is expected to close in the second calendar quarter of 2026, subject to the execution of definitive transaction agreements, client consents and other customary closing conditions.

The takeaway

This acquisition solidifies Franklin Templeton's position as a leading global asset manager in the rapidly evolving digital assets space, combining the crypto-native expertise of Perkins and Ginns with the firm's institutional resources and distribution capabilities to deliver innovative investment solutions to clients worldwide.