[Gwypaas]

The difference is the dividend. A stock is a right to vote and a slice of future profits. Stocks are speculation about future profits, which we then build mechanisms to express optimism or pessimism on.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dividend

[TimJRobinson]

Plenty of crypto tokens also pay the equivalent of dividends - Ethereum, GMX, Balancer, etc. These come from the profits the platforms make. Almost all tokens give you the right to vote.

[hnbad]

A stock, yes. But futures? Derivatives? There are tons of speculative financial products that don't grant a right to vote and a slice of future profits.

"Expressing optimism or pessimism" also doesn't sound very scientific or rational.