Well we can say it's a data of transaction but that should be limited to the Blockchain as transaction need to be verified by the  nodes , after the verification there should be a pending transaction, the purpose of this verification is just to make sure the transaction is valid  . The same pending transaction  can now be pick up by a node miner or group of minners( forming a minning  pool) . After the  the transaction have been  mined then it get broadcasted by the nodes thus, a block is formed and added to the blockchain . This process of minning this particular  block is rewarded to minners and  the data is stored on the block-chain  as the name implies .

Maybe u are talking about how bitcoin miners make their money  but if you mean how bitcoiners  make their money , then it should not be limited to  only minning  but also investment  and trading , individual choose  to engage in the one  that profit or understandable by them the most