> If it pays more to work for a crypto exchange or the next data-stalking start-up than to cure cancer then most of the knowledge people will work on them.
Stronger morals, perhaps, but also redirecting the collective moral compass from favouring the individual to favouring the collective. Today, one can feasibly frame working for a megacorp for $$$ as morally just to provide one's own family with a comfortable, safe life. Morality focused on the individual.
Things like effective altruism seem to be an attempt at redirection, but they have their own problems. Until someone or something succeeds with redirection, having stronger morals will only make the problem worse.
Building stronger morals could also help.