Key Insights:
- Franklin Templeton links AI operations with crypto’s 24/7 financial infrastructure.
- AI agents need payment rails that work nonstop, which crypto can provide.
- Legacy finance does not meet AI’s demands for constant speed and automation.
- One of the world’s oldest firms now views crypto as essential infrastructure.
Franklin Templeton, an 80-year-old global asset manager with $1.5 trillion under management, is integrating crypto with AI in its business operations. The firm shared its views recently, explaining how digital assets are now part of the systems used to support always-on financial services.
FRANKLIN TEMPLETON JUST CONNECTED AI AND CRYPTO IN A WAY THAT ACTUALLY MAKES SENSE
This wasn’t some hype take. Franklin Templeton is an 80-year-old asset manager with around $1.5T under management, and they were very matter-of-fact about it.
Their view is that crypto ends up… pic.twitter.com/FzI3XWIprE
— CryptosRus (@CryptosR_Us) December 30, 2025
The company stated that artificial intelligence agents are set to operate continuously. These systems must move funds and make decisions without pause. This creates a demand for platforms that run 24/7, which traditional financial systems cannot support. Crypto networks, which operate nonstop, are being used to fill that need.
Crypto as Infrastructure, Not Just Investment
Franklin Templeton emphasized that crypto is not only an asset class but part of the core financial infrastructure. The firm shared that as more AI-driven systems enter the financial space, they need a reliable and continuous way to process transactions.
The markets no longer operate on fixed hours. Clients in over 150 countries need services that work across time zones and weekends. “Advice, execution, and settlement can’t sleep,” they said during the statement. Crypto systems, such as public blockchains, allow this kind of nonstop operation.
They also noted that the technology allows money to move without relying on traditional financial rails. This can reduce settlement delays and allow AI systems to make real-time financial decisions. The firm is not promoting AI or crypto tokens but is instead explaining the role of digital assets in daily operations.
Shift Driven by Practical Business Needs
Franklin Templeton’s approach does not reflect a promotional campaign. Instead, it reflects what the firm says is now a necessity. The statement from the firm pointed out that they are already using the technology to meet client needs.
The message did not focus on specific cryptocurrencies or AI projects. It focused on how modern systems must now work at all times. This change, according to the firm, is not based on hype but on business demand.
As financial systems evolve, firms like Franklin Templeton are preparing for a world where finance does not pause. Their shift to crypto-backed infrastructure supports this new model.
