What data is valuable to own?

Some thoughts riffing on this conversation between @kylesamani and @jesse last week:

Cofounder, Managing Partner @ Multicoin Capital

Investing @variant, writing at https://backoftheenvelope.substack.com/

Same dynamic of “valuable in aggregate, valueless solo” holds true for purchasing data, social graphs, attention hours, and more

User-owned data is valuable when:

1) There is upside in taking an action before others, and the data signals that the action is worth taking. We often see this in financial(ized) markets: trading stocks, buying real estate, etc.

2) There is a need for privacy (similar to the point Kyle makes; the value in owning is being able to exclude). Examples include healthcare data or SSNs

3) Accessibility degrades the user experience. Spam calls come to mind 

4) There is some need for verification that an action came from the specified user. Jesse makes a good point here:

3) Accessibility degrades the user experience. Spam calls come to mind 

4) There is some need for verification that an action came from the specified user. Jesse makes a good point here:
https://x.com/jessewldn/status/1811421556192498066

When thinking about aggregate data, the distinction between user-owned and open access is negligible 

For instances where individual data is valuable, though, user ownership matters

Most data is valuable only in some aggregate form 

Example: what an individual listens to on Spotify has no predictive power over an artist’s ability to sell out a tour. The global leaderboards of artists on Spotify, however, might be useful to studios when planning venue locations / sizes, investing in new genres, etc.