Franklin Templeton and Binance Expand Institutional Access to Digital Assets with Modern Collateral Program
Mumbai, India – February 18, 2026 – Franklin Templeton, a global investment leader, and Binance, the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume and users, today announced a new institutional off-exchange collateral program designed to enhance security and capital efficiency in digital markets. The program allows eligible clients to utilize tokenized money market fund shares issued through Franklin Templeton’s Benji Technology Platform as off-exchange collateral when trading on Binance.
Addressing a Key Institutional Challenge
The initiative directly addresses a long-standing challenge for institutional traders: the need to utilize traditional, regulated, yield-bearing money market fund assets within the digital asset space without requiring those assets to be held directly on an exchange. By mirroring the value of Benji-issued fund shares within Binance’s trading environment, while maintaining the secure off-exchange custody of the underlying assets, the program reduces counterparty risk.
How the Program Works
The program leverages Ceffu, Binance’s institutional crypto-native custody partner, to provide secure custody and settlement infrastructure. Assets participating in the program remain held off-exchange in a regulated custody environment, with tokenized money market fund shares pledged as collateral for trading on Binance. This setup allows institutions to earn yield and support their trading activity without compromising on custody, liquidity, or regulatory protections.
Statements from Industry Leaders
“Since partnering in 2025, our work with Binance has focused on making digital finance actually work for institutions,” said Roger Bayston, Head of Digital Assets at Franklin Templeton. “Our off-exchange collateral program is just that: letting clients easily set their assets to work in regulated custody while safely earning yield in new ways. That’s the future Benji was designed for, and working with partners like Binance allows us to deliver it at scale.”
“Partnering with Franklin Templeton to offer tokenized real-world assets for off-exchange collateral settlement is a natural next step in our mission to bring digital assets and traditional finance closer together,” said Catherine Chen, Head of VIP & Institutional at Binance. “Innovating ways to use traditional financial instruments on-chain opens up new opportunities for investors and shows just how blockchain technology can develop markets more efficient.”
Ian Loh, CEO of Ceffu, added, “Institutions increasingly require trading models that prioritize risk management without sacrificing capital efficiency. This program demonstrates how off-exchange collateral can support institutional participation in digital markets while maintaining strong custody and control.”
Expanding the Ecosystem
This launch builds upon the strategic collaboration announced between Franklin Templeton and Binance in September 2025 and expands both firms’ networks of off-exchange program partners. By bridging tokenized money market funds through Benji, Franklin Templeton aims to integrate trusted investment products into modern markets, enabling institutions to trade, manage risk, and move capital more efficiently as digital finance becomes increasingly integrated into the financial system.
Meeting Institutional Demand
Offering more tokenized real-world assets on Binance is intended to meet the growing institutional demand for stable, yield-bearing collateral that can settle 24/7, providing investors with greater choice and an enhanced trading experience on the world’s largest regulated digital asset exchange.
About Franklin Templeton
Franklin Templeton is a global investment leader delivering tailored solutions to align with clients’ strategic goals. With expertise in portfolio management across public and private markets, the firm combines investment excellence with cutting-edge technology. As of January 31, 2026, Franklin Templeton operates globally in more than 35 countries with over $1.7 trillion in assets under management. franklintempleton.com
About Binance
Binance is a leading global blockchain ecosystem and the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume and registered users. Trusted by over 300 million people in 100+ countries, Binance provides industry-leading security, transparency, and a comprehensive portfolio of digital asset products and services. binance.com
About Ceffu
Ceffu is an institutional-grade custody platform offering compliant custody and liquidity solutions, certified with ISO 27001 & 27701 and SOC2 Type 2 attestation. Utilizing multi-party computation (MPC) technology and customizable multi-approval schemes, Ceffu provides bespoke solutions for the safe storage and management of virtual assets. For this program, custody services for Benji-issued tokenized money market fund shares are provided by Ceffu Custody FZE, a virtual asset custodian licensed and supervised in Dubai.