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Blackbird Labs aims to revolutionize the restaurant-customer connection through its crypto-powered loyalty program.

They recently announced a $24 million Series A funding round, led by Andreessen Horowitz.

Here's how it works:

• Customers use their smartphones to tap an NFC reader when they enter the restaurant.

• This action mints a non-fungible token (NFT) membership for the user.

• These memberships offer a variety of benefits, including exclusive off-menu items and access to an SMS concierge service, making each dining experience unique.

The project is garnering mainstream attention, in part because it's led by Ben Leventhal, a co-founder of the dining network Resy.

Interestingly, a recent article on Blackbird in The New York Times didn't mention the word "crypto," highlighting the project’s mainstream appeal.

Beyond NFTs, Blackbird also incorporates $FLY tokens that diners can earn.

Unlike traditional reward systems that lock in points, Blackbird's approach allows users to take their earned points across public blockchains.

For users new to cryptocurrency, Blackbird is using Privy to streamline the onboarding process.

Users can simply sign in with their phone number to access a self-custodial crypto wallet.

As of now, Blackbird has successfully partnered with about 80 restaurants in New York City.

Blackbird's success could set a new standard in this space.

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