I think this is exactly the bet they're making.

I was totally confused by what connected the two companies until I realized "tokens" are basically a nascent, and rapidly growing, "currency".

Overthinking it. "You have money and need to seem AIish for the stock market, we want real money". You notice they don't do this deal in tokens, they do it in fiat currency.

Except that tokens aren’t completely fungible yet. But, I think we’re approaching the point where it is close enough to be a “proof of work” analog.