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About Franklin
Franklin is a payroll platform designed for startups and Web3 companies, offering hybrid fiat (USD) and cryptocurrency (stablecoin) payroll processing in a single system. Its core business covers US W-2 payroll, global contractor payments (1099/W-8/W-9 collection), automated tax filing, and additional tools like accounts payable/receivable and token/grant distributions. Pricing starts at $50/month for teams of up to three, with per-contractor fees at $15/month.
The company's main value proposition is consolidating traditional payroll compliance with crypto-native payments, allowing employers to pay teams in USD, stablecoins, or a mix of both without juggling separate platforms. It also provides real-time USD price feeds when queuing crypto payments and supports gasless bulk transactions.
The market problem Franklin addresses is the operational gap for crypto-forward startups that need compliant payroll (tax reporting, W-2s) while also wanting to pay contractors globally in digital assets. Traditional payroll tools rarely support crypto, and crypto payment tools often lack tax compliance features.
Regarding recent developments (March–September 2026), the platform remains actively maintained, with third-party reviews updated in May 2026 confirming its hybrid fiat/crypto processing capabilities. However, two notable limitations exist: payment routing is restricted to strictly crypto-to-crypto or fiat-to-fiat transfers (no dynamic splitting between rails for end payees), and there is a pricing discrepancy between the official page ($50/month Starter) and older materials citing $30/month. The platform serves approximately 40 customers and integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, BambooHR, Rippling, Gusto, and Slack.
Franklin, a hybrid fiat/crypto payroll provider, has made significant strides in the past six months. Key developments include the launch of Payroll Treasury Yield, a service enabling companies to earn returns on idle payroll funds through DeFi lending protocols like Summer.fi, while maintaining custody and liquidity. The company also expanded to multichain payments, supporting Ethereum, Polygon, Optimism, Arbitrum, Base, Linea, Avalanche, and Celo, allowing users to execute payroll and bill payments across networks in a single transaction with no gas fees. Looking ahead, Franklin's roadmap focuses on deepening its on-chain treasury solutions, integrating more DeFi yield strategies, and expanding its multichain infrastructure to reduce friction for global payroll. CEO Megan Knab envisions a future where payments increasingly run on public blockchain rails, potentially reshaping the role of traditional banks, which may become compliance-focused entities rather than payment intermediaries.
Franklin is a hybrid fiat and crypto payroll platform, led by three co-founders.
Megan Knab (Co-founder & CEO) has a crypto accounting background, previously served as VP of Finance at Serotonin, Director of Analytics & Strategy at DriveWealth, and founded VeriLedger. She holds an MBA in Economics & Finance from Baruch College.
Shaan Savarirayan (Co-founder & CTO) is a full-stack and smart contract development expert, previously architected crypto trading systems at DriveWealth and worked at Viget.
Eric Brown (Co-founder & COO) focuses on financial product management, previously served as Product Manager for the institutional desk at DriveWealth and participated in Munich Re America's technology transformation team.