Franklin Templeton, one of the leading global investment firms, has announced the launch of the first tokenized money market fund in Hong Kong. This project is built on its proprietary platform Benji Technology and is presented as part of the extensive HKMA Fintech 2030 initiative.
This is reported by Business • Media
Features of the Tokenized Fund and Its Advantages
The new financial instrument is named Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund. It is focused on investments in short-term U.S. government securities, and its structure is based on modern tokenization solutions. As a result, the fund offers more efficient transactions, increased transparency, and reduced costs compared to traditional funds.
The fund is registered in Luxembourg and is already available to institutional and professional investors in Hong Kong with assets of at least 8 million Hong Kong dollars (over $1 million). The company is also working on a version for retail investors, which will expand access to tokenized products in this rapidly growing market.
“This launch reflects our ongoing commitment to providing innovative investment solutions that meet the needs of modern investors, expanding the availability of tokenized products in this dynamic market,” said Tariq Ahmad, head of Franklin Templeton in the Asia-Pacific region.
Partnerships and Role in the Development of Financial Technologies
Franklin Templeton is actively collaborating with leading players in the financial market, including HSBC and OSL Group. As part of the pilot project Project Ensemble, the companies are testing the potential of using tokenized deposits for fund settlements. HSBC is exploring the potential of such deposits to service transactions for OSL clients, paving the way for nearly instant settlements in a 24/7 mode.
The launch of the tokenized fund took place within the framework of the Fintech 2030 plan, presented by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Eddie Yue Wai-man. The initiative encompasses over 40 measures, including the implementation of artificial intelligence, the development of a tokenized ecosystem, and the creation of a framework for settlements using tokenized deposits. In the future, these solutions may be integrated with central bank digital currency (CBDC) for interbank payments.
Sandy Kaul, head of the innovation division at Franklin Templeton, emphasized the importance of partnerships with traditional financial institutions and Web3 platforms, which will facilitate the acceleration of tokenization and the formation of a new future for investing.
Bryan Chen, head of asset management at OSL, stated:
“Hong Kong is becoming an institutionally reliable hub for digital assets. We look forward to the opportunity to present Franklin Templeton’s flagship tokenized product to professional investors in Hong Kong,” said Bryan Chen, head of asset management at OSL.
Lewis Sun, global head of internal and new payments at HSBC, noted that the partnership demonstrates the significant potential of tokenized deposits to provide nearly instant settlements for tokenized money market funds.
The launch of this fund continues Franklin Templeton’s global strategy in the field of tokenization. In September 2025, the company, along with DBS and Ripple Labs, implemented an institutional solution based on the XRP Ledger, which includes the tokenized fund sgBENJI and the stablecoin RLUSD. Additionally, in April, plans were announced for Franklin Templeton to launch an exchange-traded crypto product (ETP) in Europe.