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Depends on what the gains are used for.

Ultimately all investors from the hedge funds down to the long sucker, it is all skimming for returns. HFT just skims from other skimmers returns. Yes those investments may have created value, but ultimately people invest because they want returns.

The money made will be used for more skimming but also some for investment in other possibly beneficial projects.

Extracting financial value via investment (skimming) may allow someone to start a company, support a community or family and have valuable time to make those things better. Just as an investment in a company/idea creates value in that company, the value gained from trading where the first step really is skimming, can be used to create value in the real world or even just time which may lead to more real actual value created.




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