---
name: nansen-holder-analysis
description: "Is this token held by quality wallets or retail noise? SM holder ratio, flow breakdown by label, and recent buyer quality."
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.

# 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.