Crypto. Bitcoin. Gold. Every few years, a new wave of thinking challenges the traditional dominance of the dollar. People look for alternative stores of value, something more stable, more independent, or more future-facing. But while everyone is debating what the next currency might be, we are overlooking the one that is already here, quietly gaining power behind the scenes: data. As artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and digital infrastructure continue to expand, data is not just a byproduct of technology, it is the fuel. And like any valuable resource, the more essential it becomes, the more it starts to resemble currency.

The contradiction we are ignoring

We have all seen the headlines. On one end, there are lawsuits exposing how companies collect and sell personal data for profit, often without users fully understanding or consenting. On the other, there is growing backlash against Big Tech, especially around the environmental cost of massive data centers consuming water, land, and energy. So from a public perspective, it can feel like a lose-lose situation. Data is either being exploited, or it is contributing to larger systemic harm. And to be fair, both concerns are valid. But they are also surface-level conversations.

The questions we should actually be asking

Instead of only reacting to how data is used, we should be asking deeper, more foundational questions:

• Who gets access to data and why is so much of it locked behind paywalls or private systems?
• How can data be used ethically, in ways that benefit more people than they harm?
• What would it look like to treat data not just as a tool, but as something with measurable value?

Because once you start thinking about data in terms of value, the next question becomes unavoidable: What if data is already functioning as a form of currency? If we treat data like currency, it changes everything. It means data is not just something collected or analyzed, it is something that can be owned, traded, protected, and potentially monetized. So what does that system look like?

• Do companies create monopolies over datasets and rent access through subscriptions?
• Do we push for open-access systems where data is shared more freely?
• Do we move toward a kind of digital bartering system, where datasets are exchanged rather than sold?

And more importantly: Who controls the rules? If data becomes currency, then we will need systems to support it. In that world, cybersecurity professionals could function as the equivalent of banks, protecting, verifying, and managing data transactions. Data security is becoming less of a technical feature and more of a financial necessity. The real challenge, though, is storage. Unlike traditional currency, data has a physical footprint. It requires infrastructure, servers, energy, and land. That is where emerging technologies, like quantum computing, could shift the landscape entirely. If we can develop more efficient ways to store and process massive datasets, we reduce both cost and environmental impact.

Where this is all going

We are already living in a world shaped by data. AI models depend on it. Companies compete over it. Entire industries are being built around it. But we have not fully caught up to what that means. As technology continues to evolve, we need parallel conversations not just about ethics and regulation, but about ownership, access, and value. Because from a capitalistic perspective, one thing is almost guaranteed: Data will be monetized at scale. The real question is whether we shape that future intentionally or wait until it has already been decided for us.

Jarelis Cabrera is a biotechnology researcher.