BNB News Today: Franklin Templeton's BNB Chain Move Fuels $30B Tokenized Real-World Asset Boom

Franklin Templeton, a global asset manager with $1.6 trillion in assets under management, has expanded its Benji Technology Platform to BNB Chain, marking a significant step in institutional blockchain adoption. The platform, which tokenizes real-world assets (RWAs), now integrates with BNB Chain to leverage its compliance-ready infrastructure, low transaction costs, and high throughput. This move aligns with Franklin Templeton's strategy to "meet investors where they're active," as stated by Roger Bayston, Head of Digital Assets at the firm. The Benji platform currently manages $732 million in on-chain assets, including the Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund (FOBXX), which has distributed $51 million in dividends since its launchFranklin Templeton Expands Benji To BNB Chain^[2].

BNB Chain's appeal lies in its technical advantages: sub-second transaction finality, ultra-low fees, and a growing ecosystem of institutional and retail users. Sarah Song, Head of Business Development at BNB Chain, emphasized that the network offers "fast settlement, low fees, and compliant data tooling," making it ideal for scaling tokenized financial productsFranklin Templeton’s Benji Technology Platform Onboards BNB Chain^[1]. The partnership underscores BNB Chain's role as a hub for regulated RWAs, with the network hosting tokenized money market funds, credit instruments, and other assets. Analysts note that BNB Chain's $542 million in tokenized RWAs places it as the eighth-largest chain globallyFranklin Templeton Expands Benji Tokenized Fund to BNB Chain^[3].

The integration has coincided with a surge in BNB's price, which rose 17% monthly to $1,010, briefly surpassing $1,200 in late September. This rally was driven by institutional demand, including treasury allocations from Jiuzi Holdings and Kazakhstan's Alem Crypto Fund, as well as increased decentralized trading activity on protocols like Aster. BNB Chain's daily active addresses surpassed 52.5 million in September, reclaiming the top spot from Solana. The network's recent Maxwell Hardfork upgrade further enhanced its competitiveness by reducing block time to 0.75 seconds.

The RWA market, which includes tokenized U.S. Treasuries and short-term credit, has grown to $30.42 billion, with over 400,880 individual holders. Despite this growth, challenges remain, including fragmented regulations and liquidity concentration. JPMorgan analysts caution that regulatory uncertainty could slow adoption, though the presence of institutions like Franklin Templeton may accelerate legitimacyFranklin Templeton Expands Benji To BNB Chain^[2]. The RWA Report highlights a 224% increase in tokenized assets since early 2024, with most liquidity still concentrated in safe-haven assetsFranklin Templeton Expands Benji To BNB Chain^[2].

Franklin Templeton's multi-chain strategy, which spans Ethereum, Solana, and now BNB Chain, reflects its belief that no single blockchain will dominate institutional adoption. The firm's expansion to BNB Chain also aligns with broader market developments, such as Nasdaq's proposal to allow tokenized versions of listed stocks and ETFs to trade alongside traditional sharesFranklin Templeton Adds BNB Chain as It Scales Tokenized Product Infrastructure^[4]. By diversifying its infrastructure, Franklin Templeton aims to ensure regulatory compatibility and expand access to global investorsFranklin Templeton Adds BNB Chain as It Scales Tokenized Product Infrastructure^[4].

The partnership signals a shift toward mainstream adoption of tokenization, with traditional finance embedding blockchain into operations. As BNB Chain continues to attract institutional players, its role in bridging traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi) is expected to grow. However, sustained success will depend on regulatory clarity, reliable infrastructure, and demand for tokenized products beyond safe-haven assetsFranklin Templeton Expands Benji To BNB Chain^[2].