Data, often described as the “new oil,” is the backbone of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. However, as publicly available databases approach depletion, big tech companies are grappling with the challenge of accessing fresh, high-quality, and nonpublic data sources. Addressing this issue is Vana, a blockchain-powered startup co-founded by Filipino tech expert Arthur Abal and Anna Kazlauskas.
Abal emphasizes the untapped potential of personal data, stating, “Each person, including ordinary Filipinos, is sitting on a massive store of valuable data capital that companies are willing to pay for.” He highlights that user data is currently being bought and sold by companies without consent or compensation.
Vana, derived from the word “nirvana,” aims to return control of data to its rightful owners. Built on blockchain technology, the platform enables users to reclaim their data and earn from it. “By securing and earning from their data, Filipinos can actively participate in the new data economy, creating new income opportunities and reclaiming value that would otherwise be locked away in corporate silos,” says Abal.
A Bold Vision for Data Ownership
Abal and Kazlauskas met in 2018 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab, where they collaborated on a project called Toca, aimed at involving low-income communities in data labeling. After their studies, the duo shifted focus to a broader vision: revolutionizing data ownership.
In 2021, Vana was launched at the Open Data Labs in San Francisco. The concept of a decentralized platform caught the attention of leading crypto venture capitalists like Paradigm and Polychain.
Through Vana, users can group their data, tokenize it, and sell it to tech companies. Tokens, considered digital assets in cryptocurrency, unlock the financial potential of user data.
The Reddit DataDAO Breakthrough
Vana’s potential was demonstrated in April 2024 with the creation of The Reddit DataDAO, a decentralized autonomous organization where members collectively decide how to use their data. This initiative arose from backlash against Reddit’s $60-million deal with Google to sell user data for AI training.
“The Reddit DataDAO exemplified how tokenization and community mobilization could intersect to challenge the status quo, ultimately providing a new model for data ownership and financial empowerment,” says Abal.
Within a week of launching, the initiative attracted 140,000 participants, underscoring the demand for data ownership solutions. Abal credits the success to both user outrage and the token incentives offered by the platform.
Safeguarding Data with Blockchain
To ensure user data security, Vana employs patented noncustodial techniques for encryption. Only users with access to their crypto wallet keys can unlock their data, guaranteeing privacy.
Vana’s blockchain-based system also enables AI models to better represent diverse cultures and languages. For example, Abal notes that the platform addresses the “exclusionary gap” in AI by incorporating real data from underrepresented communities.
The Future of Data Economy
Looking ahead, Vana plans to expand its ecosystem to support the development of user-owned AI. “Vana aims to make data and AI development collective, collaborative and innovative—a social good that everyone can benefit from and profit from,” Abal shares.
For Abal, the journey of building Vana has been one of tackling complex problems through constant innovation and perseverance. As he puts it, “The technical, economic, and social challenges involved are significant, but solving them requires collaboration and determination.”
By empowering individuals to reclaim their data, Vana is paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable digital economy.
