Wall Street’s Insatiable Greed Could Fast-Track XRP ETF Approval—John Deaton Drops Bombshell

Wall Street’s hunger for profits might finally break the XRP ETF deadlock. John Deaton—crypto’s loudest legal eagle—just hinted that financial sharks smell blood in the water.

Why now? Because nothing moves markets like unchecked avarice.

The SEC’s resistance crumbles when billion-dollar fee revenue winks from the sidelines. Suddenly, ‘risky’ assets look delicious when wrapped in a tidy ETF wrapper—especially one tied to Ripple’s courtroom victories.

Deaton’s take? Regulatory hurdles won’t stop the money train. ‘They’ll approve it once the suits calculate their cut,’ he shrugs. Classic finance: morals fade when spreads widen.

Watch this space. The only thing Wall Street loves more than regulation is bypassing it for profit.

TLDR

• Pro-Ripple lawyer John Deaton says Wall Street can’t pass up the XRP ETF opportunity.

• BlackRock currently has no plans for an XRP ETF but may change stance soon.

• XRP ETF approval chances rise as Ripple’s legal battle with the SEC ends.

• SEC weighs multiple crypto ETF proposals, including those for XRP and Solana.

The end of Ripple’s long-standing legal battle with the SEC has sparked increased interest in an XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF). As the final decision from the court draws near, speculation about whether major financial institutions, including BlackRock, will jump on the opportunity to launch an XRP ETF continues to grow.

John Deaton, a lawyer known for his support of Ripple, has voiced strong confidence in this scenario. He argued that Wall Street’s “greed” will likely push asset managers to seize this lucrative chance. Deaton’s comments came after ETF Store President Nate Geraci suggested that BlackRock might have been waiting for the legal clarity around Ripple’s case before proposing an iShares XRP ETF.

Agreed. Wall Street is too greedy not to. https://t.co/KgQEttVVkT

— John E Deaton (@JohnEDeaton1) August 8, 2025

Despite recent doubts, Deaton believes that Wall Street will not pass on an opportunity that could be too profitable to ignore. This, he argues, is especially true as many large firms are eager to expand beyond Bitcoin and ethereum in the crypto space.

Ripple’s Legal Battle Ends, Opening Doors for XRP ETF

The conclusion of Ripple’s legal dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) marks a turning point in the future of XRP ETFs. In 2020, the SEC accused Ripple of raising funds through the sale of XRP tokens, which the agency claimed were unregistered securities. However, a recent ruling determined that certain XRP sales were not in violation of securities laws, providing a significant victory for Ripple.

With the legal barriers now removed, large asset managers like BlackRock are facing growing pressure to include XRP in their ETF offerings. This would not only open the door to a broader range of crypto assets but also provide an attractive investment option tied to one of the most liquid altcoins in the market. As firms await the SEC’s official stance on several proposals for crypto ETFs, the XRP ETF is becoming a focal point of discussions.

Despite the rising interest, BlackRock has stated that it does not plan to launch an XRP ETF or an ETF for solana (SOL) at this time. However, analysts suggest that this position may shift as competitors begin to test the waters in the crypto ETF market.

XRP ETF Approval Odds and SEC Stance

While many are optimistic about the potential for an XRP ETF, the SEC’s current stance on cryptocurrency remains a major factor. In a July 2025 meeting, SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw voted against 13 crypto ETF proposals, including one for XRP. This action led to a brief decline in the approval odds for the XRP ETF, with some markets predicting a 66% chance of approval.

However, Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas downplays concerns, stating that Crenshaw’s vote is predictable and unlikely to affect the overall outcome.

Eric Balchunas emphasized that her long track record of opposing crypto-related products, including Bitcoin ETFs, has not had a significant impact on the broader approval process. He maintained that the ETF market for cryptocurrencies is likely to continue growing, with XRP being a prime candidate for approval in the near future.

BlackRock’s Plans for an XRP ETF: Uncertain But Possible

Despite BlackRock’s current position, market experts speculate that the firm may still decide to launch an XRP ETF in the future. BlackRock, known for its Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, could change its stance as demand for alternative crypto assets grows.

Some market observers, including Nate Geraci, President of the ETF Store, have suggested that BlackRock might be waiting for competitors to test the market before making a move.

However, BlackRock’s decision to wait is not unique. Large firms in the financial sector are often cautious before launching new products, especially in emerging markets like cryptocurrencies. The potential for a lucrative new asset class tied to XRP is drawing significant interest, and many expect Wall Street firms to act once they see solid demand for such products.