Renowned crypto legal counsel, John Deaton, has outlined a potential path forward for the ongoing lawsuit between Ripple and the SEC. Judge Torres recently denied the SEC’s request for expedited proceedings, highlighting a need for a fair and non-harmful agreement for a new judgment to be issued. Deaton proposes that for such an agreement to occur, the SEC must acknowledge past legal missteps and demonstrate collaborative efforts with Ripple, specifically acknowledging the evolving landscape of digital asset regulation in Congress. He further suggests a shift in perspective from viewing XRP as securities to classifying it more akin to commodities. This would limit the SEC’s regulatory authority over XRP. Deaton argues that in addition, the SEC should concede that Ripple’s XRP sales did not cause any harm and emphasize the court order hindering Ripple’s business growth, particularly its interactions with banks and financial institutions. An additional legal expert, Fred Rispoli, expressed his agreement that this is a complex path forward, suggesting both parties must submit detailed filings outlining past case outcomes and SEC shortcomings in crypto regulation. This process could take several weeks before Judge Torres reaches her next decision.