Authentication#

Browser login requests nansen:api for API-key-equivalent account API permissions; existing OAuth/MCP nansen:read semantics and separate wallet authorization are unchanged.

Before any research command or loop, require an explicitly selected API key or saved browser session. Run nansen auth status first. Its cached/unverified metadata does not prove credential validity or unlocked storage. Cached access-token expiry alone does not mean the session is unusable: the CLI normally renews a selected session automatically during an already-authorized research task, without another consent request or a separate account check. Stop on anonymous selection, invalid authentication state, blocked or uncertain renewal/cleanup, or an actual authentication failure, including rejected or expired refresh authority. Follow the CLI error guidance; use the free nansen account check when troubleshooting calls for it. Do not unset a failed key, erase a session or switch to anonymous access to retry.

Use nansen login for fresh browser approval within the documented platform scope, or configure a conventional API key. NANSEN_API_KEY overrides the saved session. OpenClaw's optional primaryEnv mapping preserves configured API-key injection; it is not a required-key gate or proof of authentication. Normal credits and entitlements apply. Login does not purchase credits. Browser login is available in CLI 2.0.0 within the macOS arm64 preview scope.

API keys and browser sessions use the same automatic x402 payment behavior: a supported HTTP 402 challenge can spend funds from the configured wallet under existing wallet authorization, payment policy and spending limits. Each call, including calls in loops, can incur a payment. Authentication, authorization and session-renewal failures never trigger payment; login verification and nansen account never pay automatically. Anonymous x402 remains available as a separate paid workflow requiring explicit user intent and payment setup. Do not run this research workflow anonymously or switch to anonymous access after authentication fails.

Holder Quality#

Answers: "Is this token held by quality wallets or retail noise?"

bash

TOKEN=<address> CHAIN=ethereum

nansen research token holders --token $TOKEN --chain $CHAIN --smart-money --limit 20
# → address, address_label, value_usd, ownership_percentage, balance_change_24h/7d/30d

nansen research token flow-intelligence --token $TOKEN --chain $CHAIN
# → net_flow_usd and wallet_count per label: smart_trader, whale, exchange, fresh_wallets

nansen research token who-bought-sold --token $TOKEN --chain $CHAIN --limit 20
# → address, address_label, bought/sold_volume_usd, bought/sold_token_volume, trade_volume_usd

Red flag: high fresh_wallets flow + low SM holders. Green flag: Fund/Smart Trader labels in top 20.

Note: holders endpoint does not support native/wrapped tokens. Use a specific token contract address.