Franklin Templeton registers Bitcoin DRIP ETFs funded by stock dividends, report says
In brief
- Franklin Templeton completed SEC registration of the FBEQ and FIBT hybrid ETFs, U.Today reports.
- Nasdaq listing was approved for both funds, according to the report.
- Dividends from US stock holdings buy Bitcoin, so investors do not buy coins directly.
- FBEQ and FIBT carry reported annual fees of 0.09% and 0.19%, respectively.
Why route Bitcoin through dividends?
The whole strategy rests on automatic dividend reinvestment (DRIP). Investors buy into ordinary US stocks, and the issuer sends the cash flow from those holdings toward buying Bitcoin, according to U.Today's report. Franklin Templeton (which the outlet describes as a financial group with $1.8 trillion in assets) brought in index provider VettaFi to run the mechanism.
It's Bitcoin exposure without buying the coin yourself.
U.Today said the DRIP model keeps clients away from crypto infrastructure risks like private keys and exchanges. It also said the launch is meant to attract conservative capital and retirement account holders, the kind of investors who'd rather not touch a wallet at all. FBEQ covers the 500 largest US corporations with an annual fee of 0.09%, per the report. FIBT goes into the technology sector, which U.Today compared to the Nasdaq 100, and charges 0.19%.
well-known investment expert Nate Geraci described their architecture as "smart product design"
That's Geraci's assessment as quoted by U.Today. It isn't ours.
Where EZBC fits
Franklin Templeton's first crypto product was EZBC, a spot Bitcoin fund that's been running since 2024. U.Today reported that EZBC held $467.27 million in net assets by the end of October 2026, with daily trading volume of $5.74 million and a 0.04% discount to its net asset value.
EZBC is the direct route. FBEQ and FIBT take the indirect one, buying Bitcoin only with what their stocks pay out.
The outlet also pointed to a lull in EZBC inflows and read it as a sign the market is waiting for the new hybrid funds. That's U.Today's own speculation, and we're treating it that way.
What we haven't verified
LeoDex News hasn't seen the SEC filing or a statement from Franklin Templeton. The registration, the Nasdaq listing approval, the FBEQ and FIBT tickers and the 0.09% and 0.19% fees all come from U.Today's reporting, not from issuer documents we've reviewed.
Frequently asked questions
How do Franklin Templeton's Bitcoin DRIP ETFs work?
According to U.Today, investors buy exposure to US stocks and the issuer sends the cash flow from those stocks toward buying Bitcoin. The structure relies on automatic dividend reinvestment (DRIP). Franklin Templeton brought in index provider VettaFi to run the mechanism.
What fees do FBEQ and FIBT charge?
U.Today reported that FBEQ, which covers the 500 largest US corporations, has an annual fee of 0.09%. FIBT, which covers the technology sector and was compared by the outlet to the Nasdaq 100, charges 0.19%. LeoDex News hasn't independently verified these figures.
Who are the new Franklin Templeton hybrid funds aimed at?
U.Today said the launch is aimed at conservative capital and retirement account holders. The outlet also said the DRIP model keeps clients away from crypto infrastructure risks such as private keys and exchanges.
