In a significant move to expand its reach in the world of digital assets, Franklin Templeton has announced the integration of its Benji Technology Platform with the BNB Chain, the fifth-largest blockchain by market capitalization. This strategic decision, unveiled on September 24, 2023, is aimed at enhancing accessibility for both institutional and retail investors looking for tokenized financial products.
Franklin Templeton, a global investment powerhouse with $1.6 trillion in assets under management, is leveraging its proprietary blockchain technology stack through the Benji platform to issue and manage tokenized real-world assets (RWAs). This platform underpins the Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund, known as BENJI, which currently holds assets valued at approximately $732 million, making it the third-largest tokenized U.S. Treasury fund. Notably, BlackRock’s USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund remains the leader in this space with over $2.1 billion in on-chain assets.
The Benji Technology Platform has already made its mark across various blockchains, including Stellar, Ethereum, Arbitrum, and Solana. Approximately $467 million of the total $731.8 million in Benji’s assets are currently managed on the Stellar network. This multi-chain presence showcases the platform’s flexibility and commitment to reaching diverse investor bases.
Roger Bayston, the head of digital assets at Franklin Templeton, expressed a strong vision for the collaboration with BNB Chain. “Our goal is to meet more investors where they’re active, while continuing to push the boundaries of what tokenization can deliver with security and compliance at the forefront,” he stated. Bayston further emphasized the commitment to enhancing the utility of tokenized assets for both retail and institutional clients globally.
The expansion into the BNB Chain aligns with a larger trend within the finance industry, where traditional asset managers are increasingly exploring public blockchains to scale their tokenized offerings. The tokenized RWA sector, in particular, has seen remarkable growth, with on-chain values recently surpassing $30 billion—almost double the figures from January 2025.
BNB Chain, originally launched by the cryptocurrency exchange Binance, has experienced rapid growth in recent years. Currently, its market capitalization stands at around $141.7 billion, driven by the continued adoption of its native token, BNB. Just recently, BNB traded above the $1,000 mark for the first time, gaining 19% in value over the past month.
Adding to its innovative offerings, Franklin Templeton also enhanced the BENJI fund last quarter by introducing an intraday yield feature. This new capability allows investors to earn yields continuously, even on short-term holdings. Such advancements signal Franklin Templeton’s commitment to staying at the forefront of digital asset management and providing value-added services to its investors.
As the cryptocurrency landscape evolves, Franklin Templeton’s latest initiative marks a pivotal step towards integrating traditional finance with the burgeoning world of digital assets. With BNB Chain’s growing prominence, the partnership is poised to offer substantial opportunities for investors while fostering the continued expansion of tokenized financial products.
