Crypto is a box where a bunch of people put money in and get exactly the same amount out (just distributed differently).

By that logic even the Stock market is a zero sum game.

That's not true. The money you use to buy stocks gets you an ownership interest in a company that creates value. The money you put into crypto gets you a line on a distributed spreadsheet.

The money that comes out of your ownership share is tied to the success of the company, through dividends and buybacks.