Franklin Templeton, Citi To Adopt Solana For New Services

Franklin Templeton has revealed plans to launch a mutual fund on the Solana network, while Citibank is also exploring using the network.
By Boluwatife Adeyemi
US SEC Delays Decision on Staking in Franklin Templeton Ethereum ETF

Highlights

  • Franklin Templeton will launch an on-chain Mutual Fund on Solana.
  • The asset manager suggested that Solana's cost-effectiveness prompted this decision.
  • Citibank also exploring using Solana to facilitate payment transfers.

Trillion-dollar asset manager Franklin Templeton has revealed plans to adopt the Solana network for its on-chain mutual fund. Another Wall Street giant, Citibank, is also exploring using Solana to process transfers and other smart contract services. These developments are undoubtedly positive for the Solana ecosystem, which boasts bullish fundamentals following recent announcements.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Franklin Templeton To Launch Mutual Fund On Solana

Franklin Templeton’s executive Mike Reed announced at the 2024 Solana Breakpoint event that the asset manager plans to launch an on-chain mutual fund on the Solana network. Reed highlighted how cost-efficient it was to offer this fund on Solana, suggesting this was the primary reason for adopting the network.

Reed further explained how the $1.4 trillion asset manager believes that blockchain technology can help enhance their financial services. He noted that motivated their decision to bring the mutual fund on-chain, specifically on Solana.

Interestingly, the executive revealed that they will build their development team, which will be responsible for tokenizing these funds rather than outsourcing. The team will implement the necessary infrastructure to ensure the funds are traded on blockchain rails.

Franklin Templton’s decision to adopt Solana is also unsurprising, considering earlier this year, they mentioned that Solana was “well positioned” to capture the next wave of crypto adoption.

They also mentioned how the Firedancer will enhance the network’s technical capabilities once it goes live. Coincidentally, Frankendancer, which has an element of the Firedancer validator client, went live today.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Citibank Also Exploring Solana

Citibank also announced at the Solana Breakpoint conference that it was exploring Solana and looking to utilize the network for money transfers and smart contract services at some point. Like Franklin Templeton, the bank also admitted that blockchain technology is the future of finance. As such, they are looking to utilize it to boost their financial services. Citibank earlier this year used Avalanche to test the tokenization of private equity funds.

Franklin Templeton and Citibank’s interest in Solana is undoubtedly for its ecosystem, considering the amount of liquidity that could flow into SOL. It is also worth mentioning that a Spot Solana ETF could launch at some point, with asset managers VanEck and 21Shares already filing to offer one. This will further increase the institutional adoption of Solana.

Solana’s fundamentals are bullish and support a further price surge for the SOL price. Solana Mobile recently announced the network’s new mobile Seeker, scheduled for release in 2025. Meanwhile, the ZK Compression upgrade is live on the network’s Mainnet.

Advertisement
Boluwatife Adeyemi
Boluwatife Adeyemi is a well-experienced crypto news writer and editor who has covered topics that cut across several niches. His speed and alacrity in covering breaking updates are second to none. He has a knack for simplifying the most technical concepts and making them easy for crypto newbies to understand. Boluwatife is also a lawyer, who holds a law degree from the University of Ibadan. He also holds a certification in Digital Marketing. Away from writing, he is an avid basketball lover, a traveler, and a part-time degen.
Why trust CoinGape: CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journalists and analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.
Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.