Franklin Templeton Witnesses Rising Global Demand for Bitcoin and Possibilities

Bitcoin’s status as a financial safe haven is increasingly acknowledged, as highlighted by Jenny Johnson, President and CEO of Franklin Templeton. In a detailed interview with CNBC, Johnson shed light on the rising demand for Bitcoin, especially following the recent launch of new Bitcoin ETFs, including one from her company. This development came after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved Franklin Templeton’s BTC ETF among 11 others.

Johnson’s viewpoint on Bitcoin extends beyond its use as just a means of investment. She discusses its role as a financial safety net, sharing personal anecdotes to illustrate this. “One of the things that made me a believer is I went around the world talking to people…. I had somebody who said ‘I keep 50% of my savings in Bitcoin because if I say the wrong thing in my country, I could have my assets confiscated.’ I remember talking to somebody in Israel who said, ‘My parents and their parents had all their assets confiscated.’ They keep a portion of [their savings] in Bitcoin, so there’s a fear component to it that is considered almost an insurance or safety component,” Johnson explains.

These ETFs, according to Johnson, not only provide access to BTC but also play a role in maintaining a price floor for the cryptocurrency. “But I also think it’s really important to fueling what is the next real opportunity in this blockchain world,” she adds, highlighting the company’s decision to launch the first US-registered mutual fund that uses a public blockchain to process transactions and record share ownership.