Franklin Templeton, a colossal asset management firm with assets totaling $1.5 trillion, has applied for a spot Ether exchange-traded fund (ETF), marking its entry into the cryptocurrency market. The firm submitted its S-1 filing with the United States Securities Exchange Commission on Feb. 12, aiming to launch the “Franklin Ethereum ETF” on the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Notably, Franklin intends to stake a portion of the ETF’s Ether holdings to generate additional income, aligning with the strategy of other major players in the industry. This move comes as Franklin joins the ranks of other Wall Street giants like BlackRock, Fidelity, and VanEck in pursuing SEC approval for spot Ether ETFs. Despite being a late entrant, Franklin’s vast size and recent foray into the spot Bitcoin ETF market underscore its potential to make significant waves in the cryptocurrency investment landscape, hinting at a broader interest in blockchain assets beyond BitScoin.

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