XRP is experiencing a surge in interest from institutional players, with growing support for exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and futures products. This shift marks a significant transformation from four years ago, when XRP’s legal classification as a security was still under dispute. Leading this charge was attorney John Deaton, whose legal action helped change the narrative surrounding the asset.
John Deaton recently revisited the battle that helped legitimize XRP’s place in the financial market. Reflecting on the early days of the Ripple lawsuit, Deaton explained how he filed a Motion to Intervene with the court. His primary objective was to give XRP holders a voice against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which had labeled XRP as an unregistered security.
Community Power Drove the Legal Breakthrough
Initially, the legal community ridiculed Deaton’s motion. But what started with only 12,600 XRP holders quickly grew to 75,000 supporters. Their collective voice played a crucial role in the case. According to Deaton, the presiding judge considered several affidavits submitted by XRP holders during the summary judgment process. These testimonials helped counter the SEC’s arguments and ultimately contributed to Ripple’s partial victory.
What a difference four years makes. Around this time, 4 years ago, I was filing a Motion to Intervene into the @Ripple case, asking Judge Torres to allow a putative class of XRP holders to become actual defendants in the case. Most lawyers laughed at my motion, although, tbh, I… https://t.co/JEDWpKa6Et
— John E Deaton (@JohnEDeaton1) April 7, 2025
This legal win became a cornerstone for XRP’s growing legitimacy and mainstream adoption. It also laid the foundation for financial institutions to explore XRP-based investment products without fear of regulatory backlash.
XRP Futures and ETFs Take Center Stage
The momentum has now spilled into the financial markets. Bitnomial, a trading firm, was among the first to push for an XRP futures ETF as early as 2024. Coinbase is preparing to list XRP futures later this month, marking a significant step forward in the token’s integration into regulated finance.
Meanwhile, the SEC is receiving an increasing number of XRP ETF applications. Notable names such as Grayscale, Bitwise, Canary Capital, and CoinShares are leading the effort to launch dedicated XRP ETFs. These moves suggest a growing appetite among investors to gain exposure to XRP through traditional financial instruments.
Related article: XRP Rebounds 4.77% in 24 Hours After Bearish Dip — Is This the Start of a New Upswing?
Ripple’s Tokenization Strategy Fuels Growth
Ripple Labs is also vital to XRP’s resurgence. The company has doubled its tokenization efforts, converting real-world assets into blockchain-based tokens. Ripple projects that tokenization will grow by 3,050% over the next decade. This explosive prediction benefits XRP and positions Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin as a key player in this new ecosystem.
With regulatory clarity improving and institutional interest rising, XRP is transitioning from a legally embattled token to a fully integrated financial asset. Thanks to grassroots advocacy and strategic foresight, XRP is no longer just a crypto asset; it’s becoming a pillar in the evolving landscape of digital finance.
