Franklin Templeton has partnered with Ondo Finance to bring tokenized versions of five ETFs to blockchain users, enabling round the clock access to traditional assets.
Key Takeaways
- Franklin Templeton and Ondo Finance are launching five tokenized ETFs covering stocks, bonds, and gold.
- The products will trade 24 hours a day and be accessible through digital wallets.
- The move aims to bridge traditional finance and crypto, expanding access to global investors.
- Regulatory uncertainty and rising competition remain key challenges in the tokenized asset space.
What Happened?
Franklin Templeton, a global asset manager overseeing about 1.7 trillion dollars, has teamed up with Ondo Finance to launch tokenized versions of five of its exchange traded funds. These blockchain based products will be offered through Ondo Global Markets, allowing users to access traditional investments without brokerage accounts.
The initiative reflects a broader shift as major financial firms explore blockchain infrastructure to distribute investment products more efficiently and globally.
🚨FRANKLIN TEMPLETON TO LAUNCH TOKENIZED ETFs
— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) March 25, 2026
Franklin Templeton is partnering with Ondo Finance to offer tokenized ETFs via crypto wallets with 24/7 trading access.
Launch begins in Europe, APAC, the Middle East, and Latin America. U.S. roll out depends on regulatory clarity. pic.twitter.com/vGthmftm93
Franklin Templeton Expands Tokenization Strategy
This partnership marks a significant step in Franklin Templeton’s ongoing push into digital assets. The firm has been active in tokenization since 2021, when it launched its OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund, one of the first blockchain-based mutual funds in the United States.
Now, the company is expanding its efforts by bringing a wider set of investment products onchain. The five ETFs selected for tokenization include:
- A growth focused U.S. equity strategy.
- A systematic large cap equity fund.
- A gold ETF with responsible sourcing focus.
- A high yield corporate bond fund.
- An income-focused U.S. equity strategy.
According to Sandy Kaul, Head of Innovation at Franklin Templeton:
How Ondo Powers the Onchain Experience?
Ondo Finance will play a central role by issuing tokens backed by the underlying ETFs through a structured setup. The firm will purchase and hold the actual ETF shares, while issuing corresponding blockchain tokens that track their value.
These tokens can be:
- Held directly in crypto wallets.
- Traded continuously, even when traditional markets are closed.
- Integrated into decentralized finance ecosystems.
Liquidity will be supported by Ondo market makers, ensuring smoother trading activity across all hours.
Since launching in September 2025, Ondo Global Markets has reported:
- Over 620 million dollars in total value locked.
- More than 12 billion dollars in trading volume.
- Around 60,000 users.
This demand highlights growing interest among investors seeking easier access to traditional markets without dealing with cross-border restrictions, currency conversions, or limited trading hours.
Expanding Access While Facing Regulatory Questions
One of the core goals of the initiative is to make traditional investments more accessible to a global crypto native audience. Users can gain exposure to stocks, bonds, and commodities without opening brokerage accounts.
However, access to these tokenized ETFs will not be available to U.S. users, as the platform currently operates outside U.S. regulatory frameworks.
At the same time, the rise of tokenized securities is raising important regulatory questions. Authorities have yet to fully define how such assets should be treated when they move across borders and blockchain networks.
Competition is also intensifying. Other major firms, including BlackRock, are exploring similar tokenization strategies, signaling a broader transformation in how financial products may be distributed in the future.
Education and Long Term Adoption
Beyond launching products, Franklin Templeton and Ondo Finance plan to introduce educational initiatives aimed at helping crypto native users understand long term investing.
The focus will be on integrating traditional portfolio strategies into emerging digital financial ecosystems while maintaining institutional standards.
Kaul emphasized that success will depend on how effectively these products are used, particularly in helping investors build diversified portfolios and engage more consistently with long term financial planning.
CoinLaw’s Takeaway
In my view, this move shows how fast the line between traditional finance and crypto is disappearing. I have seen many attempts at tokenization before, but what stands out here is the scale and credibility that Franklin Templeton brings.
I believe the real game changer is not just 24 hour trading, but global access without friction. If regulators provide clarity, this model could seriously challenge how brokers and banks operate today. At the same time, the restriction on U.S. users shows that regulation is still the biggest hurdle.
