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How Blackbird Is Unlocking Crypto's App Ecosystem | Ben Leventhal & Jesse Walden

Feb 28, 2025
Ben Leventhal, co-founder of Blackbird and former co-founder of Resi, joins Jesse Walden, a partner at Variant, to discuss how Blackbird is transforming restaurant loyalty with cryptocurrency. They share insights on the challenges in the restaurant industry, emphasizing the need for direct customer engagement without middlemen. The duo explores the subtle integration of crypto in consumer apps and the innovative dual-token system of Blackbird. Personal anecdotes highlight their journeys and the potential of blockchain in revolutionizing loyalty programs.
54:00

Episode guests

Jesse Walden
Ben Leventhal

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Blackbird's FlyNet blockchain enhances restaurant profitability by cutting out third-party intermediaries and promoting direct customer engagement.
  • The dual-token model of Blackbird, utilizing Fly for rewards and F2 for governance, fosters sustainable value for both restaurants and consumers.

Deep dives

Overview of Blackbird and FlyNet

Blackbird is a loyalty and payments platform specifically designed for the restaurant industry, aiming to enhance the economic sustainability of restaurants while fostering direct connections with customers. With the recent launch of FlyNet, its own blockchain, Blackbird allows all transactions and interactions to be recorded on-chain, significantly enhancing transparency and reducing the reliance on third-party intermediaries. This approach seeks to alleviate some of the financial burdens traditional payment systems impose on restaurants, which often see a percentage of their revenue lost to middlemen. By utilizing its native Fly token for payments and rewards, Blackbird creates a seamless integration of loyalty and blockchain technology within the dining experience.

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