Ondo Finance said it will work with Franklin Templeton to bring tokenized versions of traditional investment products to blockchain users, a step that reflects a broader push to merge conventional finance with crypto infrastructure.
The effort centers on Ondo Global Markets, a platform that issues blockchain-based tokens backed by real-world assets such as publicly traded stocks and exchange-traded funds. These tokens track the value of underlying securities and can be held in digital wallets, allowing users to gain exposure without opening a brokerage account.
Franklin Templeton, which manages about $1.7 trillion in assets, will provide investment products and support the rollout. The firms also plan to launch education programs aimed at crypto-native users who may be unfamiliar with long-term portfolio strategies.
The partnership builds on a growing trend where large asset managers are testing blockchain rails to distribute products. Franklin Templeton has already developed digital asset tools, while others, including BlackRock, have explored tokenized funds and onchain settlement.
Ondo Global Markets, launched in September 2025, reports over $620 million in total value locked and more than $12 billion in trading volume across 60,000 users. The company says demand is coming from users who want exposure to traditional markets without the friction of cross-border accounts, currency conversions or trading hours.
The implications reach beyond convenience. Tokenization could reshape how assets move and who can access them. Traditional markets run on limited hours and layers of intermediaries. Blockchain systems, by contrast, operate round the clock and allow direct ownership through wallets.
Still, the shift will test how far tokenized securities can go within existing rules. Regulators have yet to fully address how these instruments should be treated when they move across borders and wallets rather than brokerages.
Competition is also building. A growing list of firms now offer tokenized funds, and major financial players are weighing how to defend their role as gatekeepers. If blockchain-based
distribution gains traction, it could chip away at the advantage long held by banks and brokers that control access to markets.
For Ondo and Franklin Templeton, the bet is that investors will prefer a model that blends familiar assets with new rails.
