The DP World Tour has launched a new rolling prize fund with digital assets platform Nexo, marking the first time cryptocurrency will be used to reward on-course performance in elite professional golf.
The initiative — Course Record Presented by Nexo — debuts at this week’s Nexo Championship in Aberdeen, with a base prize of $10,000 on offer to the first player to set a new course record that stands through the end of the competition.
If no new record is set, the prize rolls over to the next event and grows by a further $10,000.
To mark its launch at Trump International Golf Links in Scotland, Nexo is offering an additional $50,000 in its native cryptocurrency tokens to any player who sets the new benchmark this week, signalling a deepening integration of digital assets into professional sport.
“The Course Record marks the first recurring prize of its kind in golf, combining a performance-driven incentive with the reach and upward potential of digital assets,” said Antoni Trenchev, Co-founder of Nexo. “It reflects a milestone in DP World Tour’s and Nexo’s shared vision for innovation in professional golf.”
Only events played on a single course will be eligible for the bonus, and if weather affects the competition, at least 36 holes must be completed for the prize to be activated. Rounds with preferred lies will be disqualified from eligibility.
From branding to bonuses
The announcement expands Nexo’s relationship with the Tour following a multi-year partnership agreement signed last month, which runs until 2027 and sees the company named as Official Marketing Partner and Official Digital Wealth Platform.
While cryptocurrency firms have become increasingly visible as shirt sponsors and naming rights partners across sport, this marks one of the few occasions where prize money has been directly linked to digital asset rewards. It is also the first such incentive to be tied to in-play performance rather than final leaderboard position.
“We’re always looking for new ways to celebrate and reward the incredible talent on the DP World Tour,” said Ben Cowen, Chief Tournament and Operations Officer at the DP World Tour.
“The Course Record Presented by Nexo does just that. It will also further enhance the spectacle for our fans, with players tempted to take extra risks to shoot that coveted course record and claim the prize.”
Risk, reward, and relevance
The performance-linked bonus is expected to inject new drama into competition, particularly at events where leaderboard separation is minimal. With players already recording ten course records in 2024 and seven in 2025 to date, the prospect of a crypto-backed windfall may prompt more aggressive play.
The introduction also comes at a time when digital assets are seeking new footholds in regulated, high-visibility environments. While football and motorsport have seen a flood of sponsorship deals, golf’s strategic demographic – high-income, investment-savvy, and globally distributed – makes it an increasingly attractive platform for crypto-related marketing and innovation.
The Nexo course record prize will continue through to the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, resetting for the 2026 season. Its long-term success may depend not only on how often the bonus is claimed, but how it resonates with fans and players alike, particularly those still cautious about cryptocurrency’s volatility and regulatory uncertainty.
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