LinksDAO is taking a swing at a new crypto strategy, launching a community token to complement its NFT membership program as it grows its golf course holdings.

• LinksDAO plans to release LINKS token on Base blockchain, allocating a third to NFT holders
• The organization has secured a partnership deal with Hillcrest Golf Course in Kansas City
• Token launch represents a shift from NFTs to more liquid crypto assets in changing market

After successfully securing a golf course in Scotland last year, LinksDAO is expanding its portfolio and adapting its tokenomics strategy. The crypto golf club, which initially raised $10 million through NFT sales in early 2022, announced plans to launch a community token called LINKS on the Base blockchain.

The announcement came during a community call Tuesday night, where founder Mike Dudas shared the vision for the new token.

“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 fucking regulations that we have to deal with,” Dudas told members.

The move reflects the changing landscape of crypto markets. While NFTs dominated headlines in early 2022, interest has waned significantly since then. According to CryptoSlam’s NFT Index, the market has declined nearly 97% since January 2022, with attention shifting to other crypto assets like memecoins.

LinksDAO’s leadership team emphasized that LINKS is not intended as a speculative asset or investment, but rather as a “community enhancer” designed to broaden participation.

“The goal is to have every single golfer have LINKS in their crypto wallet,” said head of community and co-founder Cooper Sherwin.

The token distribution will allocate one-third of the supply to existing LinksDAO NFT holders, with smaller amounts reserved for members of other NFT communities including Pudgy Penguins and Bored Ape Yacht Club.

Alongside the token announcement, LinksDAO revealed it has signed an agreement to become partial owners of Hillcrest Golf Course in Kansas City. The Donald Ross-designed course, originally built in 1915, will become the organization’s second golf property following its acquisition in Scotland last year.

Hillcrest owner Robb Heineman, who also owns Kansas City’s Major League Soccer team, said in a press release that LinksDAO “shares our forward-thinking vision for what a golf club can be.”

The Kansas City deal would give LinksDAO minority ownership and a board seat, though specific financial details weren’t disclosed. The agreement will be put to a vote among LinksDAO’s NFT-holding members, who have input on proposals but don’t hold full legal control over the project’s decisions.

Around 200 members attended Tuesday’s community call to hear the dual announcements. While LinksDAO uses DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) in its name, it functions more as a membership club connecting crypto enthusiasts and golf lovers than a true decentralized organization.

Under the proposed arrangement, Hillcrest’s national membership program would be operated by LinksDAO and restricted to holders of its NFTs.

The LINKS token is expected to launch in the coming months.