Comparing API keys to tokens is quite weird. I don't think they have almost anything to do with each other.
In general the blog text is pretty bad. It doesn't differentiate very well between tokesn and cryptocurrencies. Tokens are usually not mined but are more like shares in a company. Also many of these ICO's are very scammy, investors should be cautious.
I read it as these tokens being transferable "right" to access some service. However, what I don't understand is why there would any reason for such tokens to appreciate in value unless there was some restriction on supply (which would damage the long term viability of the service) or some other benefit from buying in early.
Or you could treat them like bearer shares - whoever ever has the token has the equity. But that could presumably have a lot of legal issues - not least around transparency of ownership and control.