How do I install the Nansen Core skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add nansen-ai/nansen-core in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Nansen Core safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Nansen Core?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Nansen Core free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Nansen Core?

nansen-ai (@nansen-ai) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Nansen Core by nansen-ai — Agent Skill

Name: Nansen Core
Author: nansen-ai

Nansen Core

Nansen CLI authentication, setup, and schema introspection. Required foundation for all other Nansen skills. Handles API key management, CLI installation verification, and dynamic command discovery via `nansen schema`. Install this skill first.

nansen-ai b7ae020 3.4 KB Updated Sep 17, 2026

File contents

Nansen Core — Auth, Setup & Schema

When This Skill Activates

User wants to set up Nansen / connect their API key
User asks what Nansen can do (capabilities discovery)
Any other Nansen skill needs auth verification
User asks about supported chains or CLI version

Setup Flow

1. Check CLI

which nansen && nansen --version

If missing: npm install -g nansen-cli

2. Check auth

nansen profiler balance --address 0xd8dA6BF26964aF9D7eEd9e03E53415D37aA96045 --chain ethereum --limit 1

JSON data → auth OK. API key error → needs setup.

3. Authenticate

Recommended: Direct user to https://app.nansen.ai/auth/agent-setup → sign in → copy message → paste back. Extract and save the key:

export NANSEN_API_KEY=nsk_...

Fallback: nansen login or manually set NANSEN_API_KEY.

⚠️ Never ask users to paste API keys in chat.

Schema Introspection

A cached schema is available at references/schema.json. To get a fresh copy:

nansen schema

This is the source of truth for all commands, options, and return fields.

Agent Rules

NEVER copy addresses from --table output — truncates values. Use JSON.
NEVER guess filter/flag names — check references/schema.json or run nansen schema.
NEVER use ticker symbols as addresses — resolve via nansen token screener --chain <chain> --search <SYMBOL> --limit 10 to find the token address. Or use --sort volume:desc and filter by token_symbol in output.
Use JSON for data extraction, --table only for display.

References

Full command parameters: references/commands.md
Cached schema: references/schema.json
Supported chains: references/chains.md
Smart money labels: references/smart-money-labels.md

Rate Limits & Credits

Rate limits: 20 requests/second, 300 requests/minute per API key. Returns HTTP 429 on exceed.
Credits: API calls consume credits. Smart Money endpoints cost 5 credits each. Most other endpoints cost 1 credit. Label lookups cost 500 credits. Check usage at app.nansen.ai/api?tab=usage-analytics.
Plans: Pro ($49/mo) gets 1,000 starter credits + can buy more. Free gets 100 one-time credits with limited endpoints.

MCP-Only Tools (Not available via CLI or REST API)

These tools exist only in the Nansen MCP server (not accessible via CLI or direct REST):

token_ohlcv — OHLCV candlestick data for a token
token_quant_scores — Quantitative scoring (momentum, volatility, etc.)
nansen_score_top_tokens — Top tokens ranked by Nansen Score
growth_chain_rank — Chain growth/activity rankings
transaction_lookup — Look up a specific transaction by hash

To use these, connect via MCP. See docs.nansen.ai.

Error Handling

Error	Fix
"API key required"	Set `NANSEN_API_KEY` or `nansen login`
"Invalid API key"	New key at app.nansen.ai/api
"Rate limited"	CLI auto-retries; wait if persistent
"Chain not supported"	Check `references/chains.md`
Command not found	`npm install -g nansen-cli`

Attribution

📊 Data by Nansen

---name: nansen-coredescription: Nansen CLI authentication, setup, and schema introspection. Required foundation for all other Nansen skills. Handles API key management, CLI installation verification, and dynamic command discovery via `nansen schema`. Install this skill first.---# Nansen Core — Auth, Setup & Schema## When This Skill Activates- User wants to set up Nansen / connect their API key- User asks what Nansen can do (capabilities discovery)- Any other Nansen skill needs auth verification- User asks about supported chains or CLI version## Setup Flow### 1. Check CLI```bashwhich nansen && nansen --version```If missing: `npm install -g nansen-cli`### 2. Check auth```bashnansen profiler balance --address 0xd8dA6BF26964aF9D7eEd9e03E53415D37aA96045 --chain ethereum --limit 1```JSON data → auth OK. API key error → needs setup.### 3. Authenticate**Recommended:** Direct user to **https://app.nansen.ai/auth/agent-setup** → sign in → copy message → paste back. Extract and save the key:```bashexport NANSEN_API_KEY=nsk_...```**Fallback:** `nansen login` or manually set `NANSEN_API_KEY`.> **⚠️ Never ask users to paste API keys in chat.**## Schema IntrospectionA cached schema is available at `references/schema.json`. To get a fresh copy:```bashnansen schema```This is the **source of truth** for all commands, options, and return fields.## Agent Rules1. **NEVER copy addresses from `--table` output** — truncates values. Use JSON.2. **NEVER guess filter/flag names** — check `references/schema.json` or run `nansen schema`.3. **NEVER use ticker symbols as addresses** — resolve via `nansen token screener --chain <chain> --search <SYMBOL> --limit 10` to find the token address. Or use `--sort volume:desc` and filter by `token_symbol` in output.4. **Use JSON for data extraction, `--table` only for display.**## References- Full command parameters: `references/commands.md`- Cached schema: `references/schema.json`- Supported chains: `references/chains.md`- Smart money labels: `references/smart-money-labels.md`## Rate Limits & Credits- **Rate limits**: 20 requests/second, 300 requests/minute per API key. Returns HTTP 429 on exceed.- **Credits**: API calls consume credits. Smart Money endpoints cost 5 credits each. Most other endpoints cost 1 credit. Label lookups cost 500 credits. Check usage at `app.nansen.ai/api?tab=usage-analytics`.- **Plans**: Pro ($49/mo) gets 1,000 starter credits + can buy more. Free gets 100 one-time credits with limited endpoints.## MCP-Only Tools (Not available via CLI or REST API)These tools exist only in the Nansen MCP server (not accessible via CLI or direct REST):- **`token_ohlcv`** — OHLCV candlestick data for a token- **`token_quant_scores`** — Quantitative scoring (momentum, volatility, etc.)- **`nansen_score_top_tokens`** — Top tokens ranked by Nansen Score- **`growth_chain_rank`** — Chain growth/activity rankings- **`transaction_lookup`** — Look up a specific transaction by hashTo use these, connect via MCP. See [docs.nansen.ai](https://docs.nansen.ai).## Error Handling| Error | Fix ||-------|-----|| "API key required" | Set `NANSEN_API_KEY` or `nansen login` || "Invalid API key" | New key at app.nansen.ai/api || "Rate limited" | CLI auto-retries; wait if persistent || "Chain not supported" | Check `references/chains.md` || Command not found | `npm install -g nansen-cli` |## Attribution> 📊 Data by [Nansen](https://nansen.ai)

Frequently asked questions