Franklin Templeton Expands Crypto ETF Offerings
Franklin Templeton has officially launched its spot Bitcoin and Ethereum combo exchange-traded fund (ETF) on the Cboe BZX exchange. This follows the launch of a similar product by Hashdex last week after both funds received approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in December 2024.
A Balanced Crypto Investment Approach
The new ETF, named Franklin Crypto Index ETF (EZPZ), offers investors exposure to Bitcoin and Ethereum based on market capitalization weighting—currently allocating 82% to Bitcoin and 18% to Ethereum. The fund also has the flexibility to add more cryptocurrencies in the future if they receive regulatory approval.
The fund comes with a 0.19% sponsor fee, which will be waived until the end of August 2025. Coinbase will serve as the fund’s custodian, ensuring secure storage of assets.
Growing Institutional Interest in Crypto ETFs
The launch of Franklin’s combo ETF signals increasing institutional interest in digital assets. Analysts suggest that as the SEC becomes more open to crypto-related financial products, the number of digital asset ETFs is likely to grow.
“Both Franklin Templeton and Hashdex will likely transform their ETFs into broader crypto index funds as the SEC allows more assets into ETF structures,” Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart commented.
Franklin Templeton has been actively expanding its crypto offerings. This new ETF follows its EZBC Spot Bitcoin ETF, launched in January 2024, and its EZET Spot Ethereum ETF, introduced in July.
Market Impact and Industry Reception
Franklin Templeton’s digital assets head, Roger Bayston, emphasized the importance of blockchain technology, stating that it represents the foundation of future data economies. The fund aims to provide a low-cost, diversified crypto investment option, making exposure to digital assets “EZPZ.”
With institutional crypto adoption accelerating, more ETF issuers are expected to follow suit with multi-asset crypto funds.
