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 when server admission and the supported platform cohort are enabled, 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 rollout acceptance is still pending.

Anonymous x402 is a separate paid workflow: without a selected credential, the CLI can automatically spend funds from its configured wallet on a supported 402 challenge, once per call, including calls in loops. Do not run this research workflow anonymously. Anonymous payment requires separate explicit user intent and payment setup; it is never a fallback for failed authentication.

Holder Quality

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

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.