How is that different/worse than a startup? Early founders/employees get stock at a lower price, and then the price goes up if the company makes progress. There's only a return if the market values it.
So if an unregulated ICO does it, it's bad. But if a regulated ICO does it, that's cool, just regular startup scene behavior. Pump and dump those return multiples on unsophisticated public investors. The VC leeches will love this new short-cycle SEC-endorsed wealth channel.
Please don't post in the flamewar style to Hacker News. We're trying for something a bit better than internet-usual here, and I'm sure you can make your substantive points without it.
Not an expert, but they basically could have listed on the stock market at the same cost and with similar parameters. At this point you’re just raging against securities and investment as a category.