To be fair, regular currency (USD, Euro, etc.) also has zero intrinsic value, and economists like it that way. Currencies that have intrinsic value (gold, copper pennies, cigarettes) tend to get taken out of circulation as they're used for that value, which makes the money supply freeze up when the value of the currency starts rising and people start hoarding it for price appreciation.

Good point. Although that is another reason why investing in criptocurrencies sounds sketchy: if a currency has a stable and predictable value then it is a lousy form of investment.

False argument between gambling vs. investment. It's more of a continuum of risk. Gambling is seen as high risk, and long term investments are seen as low risk.

There's a huge area in between, and where you place a particular activity on the continuum is largely a judgement call.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Who told you that a company had to make money to issue stock?

Somewhat related: "Blue Apron May Need to Raise More Money Soon After Shrunken IPO" https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-06-29/blue-apro... HN discussion https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14667364 (144 points, 3 days ago, 152 comments)

the original question was

> How is investing in the stock market not a gamble?

The companies that make stock market in aggregate make money.

not true if the token is an asset pegged token on future revenue.