Franklin Templeton Discusses Its Benji Token, Stellar Network, DeFi, and More
At the Crypto Valley Conference 2025, BeInCrypto sat down with Catriona Kellas, International Legal Lead for Digital Projects at Franklin Templeton, and Christian Leger, Head of Switzerland at Franklin Templeton.
They discussed the firm’s long-term vision for digital assets, their pioneering tokenization initiatives, and the future of DeFi integration.
Why Franklin Templeton Believed in Crypto From the StartCatriona: We didn’t change our view. We recognized the potential of Bitcoin and crypto early and began work in this space in 2018.
That’s when we started looking at crypto through the lens of the technology, not just the asset class. During the crypto winter, we paused some initiatives but remained committed.
We now have a Bitcoin ETF, Ethereum ETF, and other crypto-related funds. Our team researches tokenomics and explores emerging coins with long-term client value in mind.
What Happened Last Week in Crypto (7/13-7/20)
BTC all-time High: Bitcoin delivered a strong performance last week, surging to fresh all-time highs above $123,000, reflecting continued institutional momentum and macro tailwinds.
Altcoin Rally: Major altcoins followed suit, with… pic.twitter.com/1QPg5KzATM
In 2021, we launched the US 40 Act money market fund, the world’s first tokenized fund of its kind. It followed extensive collaboration with regulators.
We chose to build the tokenization tech ourselves, which gave us a deep technical understanding. Using public blockchains, we demonstrated to the SEC that these systems could offer secure control and validation.
Christian: Franklin Templeton is still family-run, which encourages a long-term view. Our leadership supports innovative projects others may avoid.
Jenny, our CEO, rose through operations and saw blockchain’s potential to cut money movement costs. This insight cemented our belief in the technology.
Why Stellar Became the FoundationCatriona: We selected Stellar for our tokenized fund because it enabled token-level controls that met SEC requirements. It allowed us to manage token location securely.
Stellar remains our primary blockchain because it’s cost-effective and fits our objectives. We’ve also adopted other networks globally.
Franklin Templeton's decision to use the Stellar blockchain wasn't made lightly.@FTI_DA’s Jenny Johnson says it came down to Stellar’s capabilities and low fees.
More here from Jenny and @DenelleDixon: https://t.co/wkVdnOOlQs pic.twitter.com/hxNSllM2UK
When evaluating blockchains, we consider cost, smart contract support, privacy features, audits, and uptime. Our due diligence from traditional asset management has been adapted for blockchain.
We maintain strict standards to ensure security and client trust.
Tokenization Beyond Financial MarketsCatriona: Tokenization isn’t limited to financial assets. Future investors may prioritize new asset classes like IP or real-world cultural assets.
For example, artists can tokenize royalties or ownership in their works. Rihanna tokenized rights to her songs, allowing fans to own a share.
This model broadens portfolio diversification and makes cultural investments accessible.
Traditional financial instruments 