---
name: nansen-general-search
description: Search for tokens or entities by name. Use when you have a token name and need the full address, or want to find an entity.
metadata:
  openclaw:
    requires:
      bins:
        - nansen
    primaryEnv: NANSEN_API_KEY
    install:
      - kind: node
        package: nansen-cli
        bins: [nansen]
allowed-tools: Bash(nansen:*)
---

## 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](https://github.com/nansen-ai/nansen-cli/blob/main/docs/browser-login.md#preview-platform-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.

# Search

```bash
nansen research search "jupiter" --type token
nansen research search "Vitalik" --type entity --limit 5
nansen research search "bonk" --chain solana --fields address,name,symbol,chain
```

| Flag | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `--type` | `token` or `entity` |
| `--chain` | Filter by chain |
| `--limit` | Number of results (default 25, max 50) |
| `--fields` | Select specific output fields |

Case-insensitive. Does NOT match by address — use `profiler labels` for address lookup.