Franklin Templeton has launched two ETFs combining U.S. equities with Bitcoin, using a rules-based strategy that systematically reinvests stock dividends into the cryptocurrency.
The Franklin U.S. Equity Bitcoin DRIP Index ETF (NASDAQ:FBEQ) and Franklin U.S. Innovation Bitcoin DRIP Index ETF (NASDAQ:FIBT), start with a 95% allocation to their respective equity indexes and 5% to Bitcoin. Their indexes evaluate Bitcoin exposure quarterly and use rules designed to keep it as a secondary allocation.
- FBEQ: Tracks the VettaFi U.S. Large-Cap 500 Bitcoin DRIP Index, offering exposure to approximately 500 large-cap U.S. companies. Expense ratio: 0.09%.
- FIBT: Tracks the VettaFi U.S. Innovation 100 Bitcoin DRIP Index, covering 100 of the largest Nasdaq-listed issuers, excluding financial companies. Expense ratio: 0.19%.
The ETFs are managed by Franklin Templeton’s Dina Ting, Hailey Harris, Joe Diederich and Basit Amin.
QUICK CONTEXT: A New Way to Combine Bitcoin and Stocks
Franklin Templeton’s latest launches combine traditional equity exposure with a systematic approach to building Bitcoin holdings. Instead of relying solely on fresh capital to increase cryptocurrency exposure, the strategy directs dividends from underlying stocks into Bitcoin. The approach gives investors exposure to both asset classes through a single ETF, while keeping Bitcoin a smaller allocation under the index rules.
The two funds offer different equity strategies. FBEQ provides broad U.S. large-cap exposure, while FIBT focuses on large Nasdaq-listed companies outside the financial sector.
However, the initial 5% Bitcoin allocation is not a guarantee of lower risk. Bitcoin’s volatility can affect returns, and reinvesting dividends into the cryptocurrency means those distributions are not reinvested into additional equity holdings. The quarterly evaluation framework is designed to maintain Bitcoin as a secondary allocation, but investors should review the index methodology and rebalancing rules to understand how exposure may change over time.
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