Franklin Templeton Bridges Traditional Finance and Blockchain with Canton Integration

Franklin Templeton has expanded its Benji Technology Platform to the Canton Network, marking a pivotal step in the integration of traditional finance with blockchain-based systems. The move, announced on November 12, 2025, connects the asset manager's proprietary blockchain infrastructure to Canton's Global Collateral Network, a distributed system designed to bridge conventional markets with on-chain ecosystems. This integration enables institutions to access new liquidity sources, optimize collateral management, and maintain compliance with regulatory standards while leveraging tokenized assets, as reported by Bitcoin World.

The Benji platform, which underpins Franklin Templeton's tokenization strategy, now operates on Canton's private blockchain, offering real-time settlement of tokenized fund shares and enhancing privacy for institutional participants. Roger Bayston, head of digital assets at Franklin Templeton, emphasized that the integration "meets institutions where they are-and where they're headed," enabling private blockchain options alongside interoperability without compromising transparency or security, according to Disruption Banking. The platform's expansion follows its 2021 launch of the first U.S.-registered mutual fund to use blockchain for transactions and recordkeeping, as previously reported by Decrypt.

The Canton Network, developed by Digital Asset Holdings, hosts $396 billion in tokenized real-world assets, including stablecoins and securities, and supports daily repo transactions worth $280 billion, as reported by Decrypt. By linking to Canton, Franklin Templeton's Benji tokens—representing shares of its OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund—can now be used as collateral within the network, facilitating efficient asset mobilization for participants like QCP and Tradeweb, as noted by Coinotag. This development aligns with growing institutional interest in tokenized finance, as highlighted by Standard Chartered's prediction that tokenized real-world assets (RWA) could reach $2 trillion by 2028, as cited by CoinDesk.

Regulatory compliance remains a cornerstone of the integration. The Benji platform enforces compliance at the protocol level, ensuring adherence to securities regulations while enabling instant transfers between approved wallets. Since its 2019 SEC filing, the platform has managed over $844 million in distributed asset value, according to RWA.xyz data, as reported by Decrypt. Georg Schneider, Head of RWA at Digital Asset, noted that the partnership "demonstrates the strength of Canton's ecosystem" and positions institutions to deepen liquidity options across global markets, as noted by Disruption Banking.

The move also reflects broader trends in institutional blockchain adoption. As traditional financial players seek efficiency through tokenization, Franklin Templeton's integration with Canton underscores the maturation of blockchain technology to meet institutional demands. Sandy Kaul, head of innovation at Franklin Templeton, cited privacy as a key driver, stating that institutions prefer private networks like Canton to avoid public blockchain exposure of sensitive trade data, as reported by Coinotag.

Looking ahead, the collaboration could set new standards for institutional blockchain adoption. With Franklin Templeton joining Cantons existing institutional backers—such as HSBC and BNP Paribas—the network's role in decentralized finance (DeFi) is poised to grow. Analysts anticipate that the integration's success will prompt other financial giants to follow, accelerating the convergence of traditional and blockchain-based finance, as reported by CoinMarketCap.