Franklin Templeton has announced a strategic partnership with MoonPay, aimed at improving the accessibility of digital assets for institutional investors. This collaboration will enable eligible institutions to seamlessly exchange stablecoins for the asset manager’s tokenized money market fund, all while remaining within blockchain networks.
The integration connects Franklin Templeton’s Benji Technology Platform with MoonPay Trade’s infrastructure. This development allows institutions to move between supported stablecoins and the firm’s tokenized money market fund without exiting the blockchain environment.
This initiative is part of Franklin Templeton’s broader strategy to deepen its engagement with digital assets. Earlier this year, the firm revealed plans to establish Franklin Crypto, a dedicated cryptocurrency division, following its acquisition of crypto investment firm 250 Digital. This new unit will focus on active investment strategies within the cryptocurrency space while continuing to develop tokenized versions of traditional financial products.
Sandy Kaul, head of innovation and digital assets at Franklin Templeton, highlighted the significance of 2026 as a pivotal year for the interoperability of various forms of digital currency. She stated, “This is the year of the universal liquidity layer,” emphasizing the potential for stablecoins, tokenized funds, and other digital currencies to be utilized across trading, lending, and collateral applications.
Kaul pointed out that one of the most attractive features for institutional investors is the ability to transfer stablecoin balances into tokenized money market funds, thereby earning yield continuously. She noted, “We trade 24/7 in the crypto markets,” contrasting this with traditional money market funds that typically require investors to hold positions until the end of a trading day to accrue interest. Tokenized funds, however, can distribute yield based on the exact duration of asset holding.
According to Kaul, there has been significant institutional interest in this functionality. She remarked, “We had tremendous demand for this,” referring to the capacity for institutions to transition between stablecoins and tokenized money market funds while maintaining exposure to yield-generating assets.
This partnership also signals MoonPay’s expansion beyond its core offerings of crypto trading and payments. The firm is increasingly focusing on tokenized real-world assets, an area that is garnering attention from traditional financial institutions eager to introduce regulated investment products on blockchain platforms.
Franklin Templeton has partnered with MoonPay to facilitate the exchange of stablecoins and tokenized money market funds for institutional investors. This collaboration reflects a growing trend in the financial sector towards integrating digital assets and enhancing liquidity options.
Source: CoinDesk