From Eater to Blackbird: Ben Leventhal on Restaurants, Loyalty, and Rebuilding Payments

Ben Leventhal, founder of Eater, Rezzy, and Blackbird, discusses his love for restaurants and how Blackbird aims to revolutionize the restaurant industry through crypto. Leventhal emphasizes that Blackbird focuses on providing value to restaurants by lowering costs and increasing customer traffic, rather than pushing crypto directly. He envisions a future where restaurants control their payment networks using blockchain technology, transferring data ownership to consumers. While acknowledging that existing technology could achieve similar decentralization, he believes blockchain offers a more straightforward path. Leventhal also shares his go-to-market strategy, targeting neighborhoods and various meal periods, and highlights the importance of collaboration with restaurants in product development.