Investment company Franklin Templeton has introduced the first tokenized money market fund in Hong Kong. The product was created on the basis of its own Benji Technology platform.
The new instrument, Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund, invests in short-term U.S. government securities.
“This launch reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering innovative investment solutions that address the needs of modern investors by expanding the accessibility of tokenized products in this dynamic market,” said Tariq Ahmad, head of Asia Pacific at Franklin Templeton.
According to the statement, its tokenized structure provides faster transactions, higher transparency, and lower costs than traditional funds. Registered in Luxembourg, the fund is available in Hong Kong to institutional and professional investors with at least HK$8 million (over $1 million) in assets.
The company is also working on a version for retail investors.
Sandy Kaul, Head of Innovation at Franklin Templeton, added:
“As an early pioneer in the digital assets space, we are committed to leveraging our deep expertise and next-generation technology through the Benji Technology Platform to lower barriers to investment and broaden access for investors.”
She emphasized that the company will work with traditional financial institutions and Web3 platforms to “accelerate the momentum of the tokenization revolution and further shape the future of investing.”
The launch of the fund was part of the Fintech 2030 plan, which was presented by the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), Eddie Yue Wai-man. The plan includes more than 40 measures to introduce artificial intelligence (AI), develop the tokenized ecosystem, and create a framework for tokenized deposit settlements. The latter can be integrated with the central bank digital currency (CBDC) for interbank payments in the future.
Franklin Templeton is participating in the HKMA’s Project Ensemble pilot project with HSBC and OSL Group, the operator of Hong Kong’s first licensed digital asset trading platform. As part of the collaboration, HSBC is exploring the possibility of using tokenized deposits to service OSL’s customer transactions.
“Hong Kong is becoming an institutionally trusted hub for digital assets. We look forward to bringing Franklin Templeton’s flagship tokenised product to Hong Kong’s professional investors,” said Brian Chen, Head of Asset Management at OSL.
Lewis Sun, Global Head of Domestic and Emerging Payments at HSBC, said the partnership demonstrates the “huge potential of tokenized deposits to facilitate near-instant, 24/7 settlements for tokenized money market funds.”
The move complements Franklin Templeton’s global tokenization strategy. In September 2025, the company, together with DBS and Ripple Labs, launched an institutional solution based on the XRP Ledger, including the sgBENJI tokenized fund and the RLUSD stablecoin.
In addition, in April, there were reports that the company is considering the launch of an exchange-traded crypto product (ETP) in Europe.