---
name: nansen-sm-cross-chain-flows
description: "Is SM buying this token on one chain but selling on another? Detect capital rotation."
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.

```bash
TOKEN_SYMBOL=<symbol e.g. "AAVE"> CHAINS=(ethereum solana base bnb)
for chain in "${CHAINS[@]}"; do
  nansen research smart-money netflow --chain $chain --limit 200
  # Filter by token_symbol; → net_flow_1h_usd, net_flow_24h_usd, net_flow_7d_usd, net_flow_30d_usd
done
```
Absent from results = SM activity below threshold on that chain, not necessarily unsupported. Use --limit 200; --limit 100 silently drops mid-tier tokens.
ETH+ & SOL− = rotating from SOL→ETH. One chain positive only = chain-specific play.
24h/7d divergence across chains is the rotation signal, not 1h.