SEC allows Franklin Templeton funds to invest in onchain money fund

Franklin Templeton received the regulatory nod to invest in its own blockchain-based money-market fund under specific guardrails, without having to adhere to physical custody regulations.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a no-action letter on Wednesday stating it won’t take enforcement action if Franklin Templeton fund managers invest cash in the Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund, an interest-bearing tokenized fund that invests in US government securities and aims to maintain a stable $1 share price.

The SEC will also allow the affiliated transfer agent, Franklin Templeton Investor Services (FTIS), to act as custodian for the tokenized funds and hold their private keys without adhering to existing physical-custody rules. It comes in response to Franklin Templeton’s formal no-action request letter sent earlier on Wednesday. 

Franklin Templeton oversees $2.5 billion in onchain assets through its tokenized funds, as the fifth-largest tokenized asset manager, according to RWA.xyz.

The fund giant launched a dedicated crypto division and acquired crypto asset manager 250 Digital in June, as part of its push into crypto and tokenization.

The SEC’s letter described 12 conditions, including requiring Franklin Templeton to maintain systems that prevent unauthorized instructions, and requiring FTIS to maintain administrative controls, such as the ability to correct, freeze, migrate or restore records.

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