According to a report by global asset manager Franklin Templeton, decentralization will drive a fourth wave of technology-backed innovations. The report outlines five "megatrends" transforming modern society, including the shift from proprietary networks to open networks, the focus on intangible assets, and the increased impact of an individual's voice on a company's strategy. The report also highlights the rise of decentralized solutions, such as tokenized assets and decentralized finance (DeFi), which offer advanced trading techniques like derivatives and staking. Franklin Templeton has made firm moves into the blockchain space, and announced plans to offer digital asset strategies to wealth managers last September.

(By Brandy Betz)