8 ♣ · Coordination · Draft

Token Gate

Access to a chat, tool, or vote that opens only for wallets holding the right token.

The Token Gate card: 8 ♣ of Coordination

How it works

The DAO picks a token and a rule, such as at least 10 tokens or any one NFT from a set. A member connects a wallet and signs a message to prove they control it. The gate reads the wallet's balance on chain. If the rule is met, the member gets in: a Discord role, a page, a form, a vote. Some gates recheck balances on a schedule and remove access when a token is sold. Extra rules, such as how long the token has been held, can be added.

Use it when

  • You want a members-only space without running a manual sign-up list.
  • Tie perks to holding, so members have a reason to keep the token.
  • Restrict a vote or a tool to people who hold a stake.

Watch out for

  • Anyone can buy or borrow the token for a day, pass the gate, and sell it again.
  • A high price bar turns the gate into a wealth filter that shuts out real contributors.

Example

Friends With Benefits. Friends With Benefits has gated its Discord since 2020, at one point requiring 75 FWB tokens to enter, checked by the Collab.Land bot.

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