LinksDAO is making headlines with the introduction of its own community token, which adds a highly tradeable asset to its nearly 10,000 membership non-fungible tokens (NFTs). This innovative step aligns with the organization’s mission: “We’re gonna buy a golf course.” As the golf-centric crypto community continues to evolve, LinksDAO is making a strategic move to engage its members at a deeper level.
While NFTs were all the rage in early 2022, generating an impressive $10 million from membership token sales, the landscape has shifted significantly. The fervent market enthusiasm that once drove prices to astonishing heights has dissipated. According to CryptoSlam’s NFT Index, the NFT market has experienced a staggering decline of nearly 97% since its peak in January 2022. Even as the spotlight moves on towards memecoins, LinksDAO is poised to launch its own community token, aptly named LINKS.
Mike Dudas, the founder of LinksDAO, emphasized during a recent community call that the token is designed to cultivate a sense of community deeply rooted in golf. He remarked, “We are going to be launching a community token that has deep culture, that’s embedded in the game of golf, that’s embedded in the community, and that’s permissible under the regulations that we have to deal with.” This token, slated for release on the Base blockchain in the coming months, will allocate one-third of its supply to LinksDAO NFT holders, with additional portions reserved for other NFT communities like Pudgy Penguins and Bored Ape Yacht Club.
As the crypto landscape evolves, the fate of any new coin often hinges on its utility as a financial instrument. Though LinksDAO asserts that LINKS is not meant to be speculative or serve as an investment, it’s clear that the success of this coin as a community “enhancer” relies heavily on its adoption and the growth of the LinksDAO ecosystem.
Co-founder Cooper Sherwin articulated the ambition for LINKS, stating, “The goal is to have every single golfer have LINKS in their crypto wallet.” This objective highlights LinksDAO’s vision of intertwining the golfing experience with the burgeoning world of cryptocurrency.
Building on recent successes, LinksDAO made headlines earlier this year by acquiring a golf club in Scotland and has recently signed an agreement to become a partial owner of Hillcrest Golf Course in Kansas City, contingent on the approval of its NFT-holding members. Designed by renowned architect Donald Ross in 1915, Hillcrest Golf Course is imbued with historical significance, but has faced challenges that present opportunities for rejuvenation.
The current owner, Robb Heineman, envisions a future where LinksDAO shares his forward-thinking strategy for redefining a golf club experience. Although LinksDAO is becoming a minority stakeholder with a board seat in Hillcrest, the financial specifics of the deal remain undisclosed as reactions from NFT holders are pending.
During a recent community gathering, around 200 members came together to witness the announcement surrounding the token and the course acquisition, which reveals that LinksDAO, while named as a decentralized autonomous organization, functions more like a specialized club that caters to the crossover between crypto enthusiasts and golf aficionados.
The national membership program for Hillcrest will be restructured to operate exclusively for LinksDAO NFT holders, fortifying the sense of community and fostering deeper connections among its members.
