Franklin Templeton, with $1.79 trillion in AUM, explores regulatory exemptions for tokenized fund trading

Odaily News — Global investment management firm Franklin Templeton is exploring regulatory exemptions to allow tokenized money market funds and ETFs to trade through blockchain-based trading venues. On October 9, the company met with staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Crypto Task Force regarding legal issues including pricing, fees, and asset pools.

The agenda included whether investors can exchange blockchain fund shares for tokenized National Market System (NMS) stocks through blockchain trading venues, and whether liquidity providers can charge service fees. The related issues involve pricing rules under the Investment Company Act and whether exemptions are needed.

Regarding tokenized ETFs, Franklin Templeton also discussed pairing them with tokenized stocks, approved payment stablecoins, or tokenized money market funds, as well as whether liquidity pools need to obtain Investment Company regulatory exemptions. Its preliminary disclosure on September 30 listed assets under management at $1.79 trillion.

Franklin Templeton's blockchain fund recordkeeping business began with the Franklin Onchain U.S. Government Money Fund launched in 2021. The BENJI token represents shares of the fund, and transferring tokens simultaneously transfers the corresponding shares, with transactions recorded and share ownership tracked by the Benji Technology Platform. (Bitcoin.com News)