Franklin Templeton Backs Wallet-Native Future at Ondo Summit

TheNewsCryptoPublished on 2026-02-04Last updated on 2026-02-04

Abstract

At the Ondo Summit in New York, Franklin Templeton outlined a vision for a "wallet-native" financial ecosystem, shifting from traditional account-based models to tokenized digital wallets. The company’s Head of Innovation, Sandy Kaul, stated these wallets will eventually hold the entirety of an individual’s financial life. Through its blockchain platform Benji, Franklin Templeton is tokenizing traditional assets like stocks, bonds, and private funds—not just cryptocurrencies. This model allows assets held across institutions to be represented as tokens on a blockchain, enabling rapid collateralization—such as using tokenized S&P 500 investments to secure loans in seconds. Summit participants from firms like Fidelity and State Street indicated tokenization has moved beyond proof-of-concept to operational use. Franklin Templeton highlighted blockchain’s cost efficiency, citing potential processing cost reductions of up to 82%. The firm has launched several digital asset ETFs, including Bitcoin and Ethereum products, and plans to expand into layer-1 blockchain tokens. CEO Jenny Johnson expects increased institutional investment in tokenized vehicles this year, broadening access to asset classes like private equity and high-yield credit.

The officials of Franklin Templeton traced a vision for virtual wallet-based finance at the Ondo Summit in New York on Tuesday, forecasting an essential shift away from traditional account-based asset management.

The Head of Innovation at Franklin Templeton, Sandy Kaul, mentioned that tokenised digital wallets will in the end hold the “totality” of the financial life of an individual, as per remarks offered at the summit.

The transition shows a move toward what the company referred to as a “wallet-native” ecosystem. The asset manager has been executing this strategy via its proprietary blockchain platform, Benji, which the firm reported is being used to tokenise traditional stocks, bonds, and private funds over simple cryptocurrency products.

As per the proposed model, in the current scenario, assets held over various institutions, comprising stocks at brokerages, savings in banks, and real estate in paper deeds, would be shown as tokens on a blockchain.

The system would permit quick collateralisation, permitting tokenised holdings like S&P 500 investments to safeguard loans within seconds, as per the presentation of the company. The officials from Fidelity, State Street, and WisdomTree took part in the summit and signalled that tokenisation has advanced from the proof-of-concept stage to operational infrastructure, as per the summit reports.

What Did The CEO Says?

Franklin Templeton mentioned that public blockchain record-keeping costs prominently less than legacy systems. The data from Industry quoted at the summit showed that adopting blockchain infrastructure can suppress overall processing costs by up to 82%.

The company has rolled out various spot digital asset exchange-traded funds as part of its tokenisation strategy. The lineup of the product comprises funds offering direct Bitcoin exposure, native Ethereum exposure via the Benji platform, and a diversified portfolio of digital assets.

The firm noted plans to widen into tokens made on layer-1 blockchain networks. The chief executive officer, Jenny Johnson, mentioned that this year would mark surged institutional investment beyond Bitcoin holdings into tokenised investment vehicles.

The products are made to offer wider access to asset classes like private equity and high-yield credit, as mentioned by the firm.

Highlighted Crypto News Today:

Bitwise Acquires Chorus One to Boost Crypto Staking

Can a Hair Dryer Earn $34,000? Deciphering the Reflexivity Paradox in Prediction Markets

An individual manipulated a weather sensor at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport with a portable heat source, causing a Polymarket weather market to settle at 22°C and earning $34,000. This incident highlights a fundamental issue in prediction markets: when a market aims to reflect reality, it also incentivizes participants to influence that reality. Prediction markets operate on two layers: platform rules (what outcome counts as a win) and data sources (what actually happened). While most focus on rules, the real vulnerability lies in the data source. If reality is recorded through a specific source, influencing that source directly affects market settlement. The article categorizes markets by their vulnerability: 1. **Single-point physical data sources** (e.g., weather stations): Easily manipulated through physical interference. 2. **Insider information markets** (e.g., MrBeast video details): Insiders like team members use non-public information to trade. Kalshi fined a剪辑师 $20,000 for insider trading. 3. **Actor-manipulated markets** (e.g., Andrew Tate’s tweet counts): The subject of the market can control the outcome. Evidence suggests Tate’sociated accounts coordinated to profit. 4. **Individual-action markets** (e.g., WNBA disruptions): A single person can execute an event to profit from their pre-placed bets. Kalshi and Polymarket handle these issues differently. Kalshi enforces strict KYC, publicly penalizes insider trading, and reports to regulators. Polymarket, with its anonymous wallet-based system, has historically been more permissive, arguing that insider information improves market accuracy. However, it cooperated with authorities in the "Van Dyke case," where a user traded on classified government information. The core paradox is reflexivity: prediction markets are designed to discover truth, but their financial incentives can distort reality. The more valuable a prediction becomes, the more likely participants are to influence the event itself. The market ceases to be a mirror of reality and instead shapes it.

marsbit45m ago

Can a Hair Dryer Earn $34,000? Deciphering the Reflexivity Paradox in Prediction Markets

marsbit45m ago

Analyst Reveals Accumulation Level For Dogecoin Before It Rallies To $2

A crypto analyst, Crypto Patel, predicts that Dogecoin (DOGE) could rally to $2, despite currently trading below $0.10. The analyst identifies a key accumulation zone between $0.07 and $0.09, where DOGE has repeatedly tested support without breaking down. Based on a bi-weekly chart using Elliott Wave theory, DOGE is in a Wave 4 consolidation phase within a descending channel. A bounce from this support is expected to trigger a Wave 5 rally, projecting a 2,767% surge toward $2. Price targets are set sequentially at $0.50, $1, and $2, with a stop-loss below $0.048. For a bullish trend reversal, DOGE must break above the $0.10 resistance level, which was recently rejected in April. Analysts emphasize that market conditions and a confirmed higher high are critical for the projected uptrend.

bitcoinist1h ago

Analyst Reveals Accumulation Level For Dogecoin Before It Rallies To $2

bitcoinist1h ago

Weekly Editor's Picks (0418-0424)

Weekly Editor's Picks (0418-0424) provides in-depth analysis on key developments across macro trends, crypto markets, and policy. Key topics include the oil market nearing a physical supply crisis due to shipping disruptions, even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens. In crypto, reports cover global consumer crypto adoption, a data-driven strategy for trading volatile altcoins, and the state of VC funding. Prediction markets like Polymarket are analyzed not as pure event-guessing games but as systems where understanding legalistic rules creates an edge. Major DeFi protocol Aave is criticized for poor crisis management amid a $300M exploit, while the controversial structure of World Liberty Financial is examined. Other highlights include policy updates like the CLARITY Act, Ethereum’s, airdrop opportunities, and weekly recaps of major incidents like the Kelp DAO hack and SpaceX's AI disclosures.

marsbit1h ago

Telegram Founder Claims French Officials Sold Crypto Data, Linked To 41 Kidnaps

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has accused French officials of selling crypto owners’ data to criminals, linking it to a sharp rise in kidnappings. France has seen 41 crypto-related kidnappings this year, part of a growing international trend known as “wrench attacks.” Durov criticized French policies requiring identity data and access to private messages, arguing that increased data flow leads to more leaks and victims. The incidents, which began in late 2024, have escalated significantly in 2026, now accounting for over half of all organized kidnappings tracked by French intelligence. In response, the government plans a broader crackdown, including a dedicated police unit, improved international coordination, and a new prevention platform for threat alerts and security guidance.

bitcoinist1h ago

Telegram Founder Claims French Officials Sold Crypto Data, Linked To 41 Kidnaps

bitcoinist1h ago

First Day Review of "Musk's WeChat" XChat: Even Worse Than Expected

Elon Musk's much-anticipated "WeChat-like" app, XChat, has officially launched after multiple delays. The initial review reveals a product that falls short of expectations, offering an experience largely similar to X Platform's (formerly Twitter) direct messages, despite being marketed as an encrypted communication tool. Key observations from the first-day test include: 1. The app's promoted "end-to-end encryption" and its claimed relation to Bitcoin's architecture were criticized by experts as a superficial attempt to capitalize on crypto buzz, with no real technical connection. 2. Musk's vision of an ad-free "secure communication system" is technically met, but only because the app is currently extremely basic, featuring only a single chat interface. 3. A promised anti-screenshot feature appears inconsistent; it works in X Platform group chats but fails within the XChat app itself, where screenshots still capture avatars. 4. The app supports 45 languages and has a 16+ age rating, indicating a broader tolerance for content compared to WeChat's 13+ rating. 5. A puzzling login process requires users to verify the email associated with their X account. 6. The touted encryption" feels minimal in practice, with its presence only indicated by a simple "Encrypted - Yes" label on messages. 7. Disappearing message timers for groups can be set from 5 minutes to 4 weeks, with the timer starting upon being read by a user. 8. Group invite links are shared with X Platform groups. 9. Group size limits are planned to be increased, aiming for 1000 members, a move that has drawn user criticism. 10. The app offers 8 different colored icons, and its chat bubbles are notably similar to WeChat's. Message deletion options mimic Telegram's. Crucially, many pre-announced features like importing X contacts, integrating Grok AI, X Money payments, and Cashtags are not yet available. The initial release is seen as a bare-bones and underwhelming first step.

Odaily星球日报1h ago

First Day Review of "Musk's WeChat" XChat: Even Worse Than Expected

Odaily星球日报1h ago

Trading

Spot

Futures

Franklin Templeton Backs Wallet-Native Future at Ondo Summit

Abstract

What Did The CEO Says?

Related Questions

Related Reads

Can a Hair Dryer Earn $34,000? Deciphering the Reflexivity Paradox in Prediction Markets

Analyst Reveals Accumulation Level For Dogecoin Before It Rallies To $2

Weekly Editor's Picks (0418-0424)

Telegram Founder Claims French Officials Sold Crypto Data, Linked To 41 Kidnaps

First Day Review of "Musk's WeChat" XChat: Even Worse Than Expected

Trading