Written by Roger Bayston, Head of Digital Assets at Franklin Templeton

I live in the East Bay, just across from San Francisco. It’s a beautiful part of Northern California—close to nature, with great hiking trails, but also near the pulse of the tech world. It’s a place that offers a bit of everything: fresh air and space to think, along with proximity to some of the most innovative companies in the world.

I live there with my wife,our two dogs, and our cat, and we really enjoy the quality of life it offers. It’s a good spot to recharge while staying connected to what’s happening across finance and technology.

Roger Bayston von Franklin Templeton. (Image: provided)

At Franklin Templeton, I work in strategy, with a strong focus on digital assets and innovation in asset management. I’ve been with Franklin Templeton for over 30 years, and in that time, I’ve seen the industry evolve, but what’s happening now with tokenization feels like a real transformation.

One of our flagship projects is the Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund, the first US-registered, fully regulated money market fund operating on a public blockchain. Investors hold fund shares in digital wallets, benefiting from blockchain-enabled features like real-time transparency, faster settlement, and enhanced operational efficiency – all within a structure that complies with the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940.

This year, we also launched a Luxembourg-domiciled UCITS version of the fund, expanding access to European investors who are looking for innovation within a familiar regulatory framework. It’s a critical step in demonstrating that tokenized products can be fully compatible with global regulation – and deliver value in real-world investment contexts.

These kinds of products aren’t abstract concepts anymore. We’re seeing institutional clients, especially corporate treasurers, integrate tokenized money market funds into their cash management strategies. They’re seeking simplicity, speed, and control. Tokenized structures offer all of that, without compromising on safety or oversight.

The Central Role of Switzerland

Switzerland has become an important part of this story. Its clear regulatory stance on digital assets has made it one of the most attractive markets for financial innovation. In places like Zurich and Zug, you see established players, fintechs, and regulators working closely together.

That kind of collaboration is a role-model, and incredibly powerful and a strong signal of what’s possible

I have regular interactions with our teams and partners in Switzerland and Luxembourg. It’s rewarding to see how global this movement already is. From the East Bay to Zurich, we’re building bridges between traditional finance and emerging technology – anchored in regulation, driven by real-world use cases.