Franklin Templeton and Binance Launch Institutional Off-Exchange Collateral Program Using Tokenized MMF Shares

Binance and Franklin Templeton have launched their first product under a strategic collaboration announced in September 2025, unveiling an institutional off-exchange collateral program designed to reduce counterparty risk and improve capital efficiency for professional traders.The new program allows eligible institutional clients to use tokenized money market fund (MMF) shares issued through Franklin Templeton’s Benji Technology Platform as off-exchange collateral when trading on Binance. Custody and settlement are supported by Ceffu, Binance’s institutional-grade, crypto-native custody partner.Tokenized MMFs as trading collateralUnder the structure, Benji-issued MMF shares remain held off-exchange in third-party custody, while their value is mirrored within Binance’s trading environment. This enables institutions to deploy regulated, yield-bearing assets as collateral without transferring them onto an exchange.The model addresses a long-standing institutional constraint in digital asset markets, where traders have historically been required to post idle capital directly on exchanges. By keeping assets off-exchange, the program reduces counterparty exposure while allowing participants to continue earning yield on their collateral.Institutional demand for yield-bearing collateralBinance said the initiative reflects broader institutional trends, including growing demand for stable, yield-generating collateral that can support continuous, 24/7 trading and settlement while remaining compatible with existing governance, compliance, and risk management frameworks.The use of tokenized MMF shares also highlights increasing interest in real-world asset (RWA) tokenization as institutions seek to bridge traditional finance products with digital market infrastructure.Access and eligibilityEligible clients can access Binance’s institutional off-exchange settlement services and begin trading using Benji-issued MMF shares held in off-exchange custody. Binance said interested participants should contact their designated account managers or apply directly through the platform.