Token Screener Tutorial

Master the art of discovering high-potential tokens using Nansen’s Token Screener.

If you don’t have time to go over the content below, watch the video tutorial here and skip to the next tutorial:

In the video, you will find the absolutely important sections to set up your token screener:

  • Chains
  • Caps
  • Toggle on or off the smart money switch
  • Overall Dex flows

Overview

The Token Screener is a powerful discovery tool that helps you identify tokens based on on-chain signals, smart money activity, and market metrics. It’s your gateway to finding opportunities before they become mainstream.

Key Features

  • Advanced Filtering - 50+ on-chain and market metrics
  • Smart Money Signals - Track institutional accumulation
  • Real-time Updates - Live data refresh every few minutes
  • Custom Screeners - Save your filter combinations
  • Export Capabilities - Download results for further analysis

Getting Started

Accessing Token Screener

  1. Log into your Nansen account
  2. Navigate to Discover → Token Screener
  3. Select your preferred blockchain (Ethereum, BSC, Polygon, etc.)

Understanding the Interface

The Token Screener interface consists of:

  • Filter Panel (Left) - All available filtering options
  • Results Table (Center) - Tokens matching your criteria
  • Quick Stats (Top) - Summary of filtered results
  • Save/Export (Top Right) - Save screens and export data

Core Filters Explained

1. Smart Money Metrics

Smart Money Net Flow

  • Tracks net buying/selling by smart money addresses
  • Positive = Accumulation, Negative = Distribution
  • Time frames: 24h, 7d, 30d

Smart Money Holdings

  • Percentage of supply held by smart money
  • Higher percentage indicates institutional confidence
  • Compare against historical averages

First Mover Score

  • Identifies tokens being accumulated before price movements
  • Based on smart money timing analysis
  • Higher scores = Earlier accumulation phase

2. Market Metrics

Market Cap

  • Filter by token size (Micro, Small, Mid, Large cap)
  • Useful for risk/reward profiling
  • Combine with volume for liquidity assessment

Volume Changes

  • Spot unusual trading activity
  • Filter by % change over different periods
  • Look for volume preceding price movements

Price Performance

  • Returns over various timeframes
  • Useful for momentum strategies
  • Combine with on-chain metrics for confirmation

3. On-Chain Metrics

Active Addresses

  • Number of unique addresses transacting
  • Growth indicates increasing adoption
  • Decline may signal reduced interest

Transaction Count

  • Total number of transactions
  • High activity often precedes price movements
  • Compare against historical baselines

Exchange Flow

  • Net flow to/from centralized exchanges
  • Outflows (negative) = Accumulation
  • Inflows (positive) = Potential selling pressure

Creating Your First Screen

Example 1: Finding Smart Money Accumulation

  1. Set Smart Money Filters:
    • Smart Money Net Flow (7d) > $1M
    • Smart Money Holdings > 5%
    • First Mover Score > 70
  2. Add Market Context:
    • Market Cap: $10M - $500M
    • Volume (24h) > $500K
    • Price Change (7d) < 50%
  3. Apply On-Chain Confirmation:
    • Active Addresses (7d change) > 10%
    • Exchange Net Flow (7d) < 0
  4. Review Results:
    • Sort by Smart Money Net Flow
    • Click tokens for detailed analysis
    • Save promising tokens to watchlist

Example 2: Identifying Oversold Opportunities

  1. Price Action Filters:
    • Price Change (30d) < -30%
    • Price from ATH < -50%
  2. Smart Money Divergence:
    • Smart Money Net Flow (7d) > 0
    • Smart Money Holdings increasing
  3. Fundamental Strength:
    • Active Addresses stable or growing
    • Transaction count maintained
    • Market Cap > $50M (for liquidity)

Advanced Techniques

Combining Multiple Signals

The Convergence Strategy

  1. Smart Money accumulation +
  2. Increasing on-chain activity +
  3. Stable or rising holder count =
  4. High probability setup

The Divergence Play

  1. Price declining +
  2. Smart Money accumulating +
  3. Exchange outflows =
  4. Potential reversal opportunity

Custom Screener Creation

  1. Build Your Filter Set
    • Start with broad criteria
    • Gradually narrow based on results
    • Test across different market conditions
  2. Save Your Screener
    • Click “Save Screen” after applying filters
    • Name it descriptively (e.g., “SM Accumulation Zone”)
    • Set notification preferences
  3. Iterate and Improve
    • Track performance of filtered tokens
    • Adjust thresholds based on outcomes
    • Document successful combinations

Interpreting Results

Reading the Results Table

Each row shows:

  • Token Symbol/Name - Click for Token God Mode
  • Price & Change - Current price and period changes
  • Market Cap - Total valuation
  • Volume - 24h trading volume
  • Smart Money Metrics - Net flow and holdings
  • On-Chain Metrics - Key activity indicators

Sorting Strategies

By Smart Money Flow

  • Identifies current accumulation targets
  • Best for following institutional money

By First Mover Score

  • Finds early-stage opportunities
  • Higher risk, higher potential reward

By Volume Change

  • Spots unusual activity
  • Often precedes major moves

Common Patterns to Watch

1. The Accumulation Pattern

  • Smart money inflows over multiple days
  • Stable or increasing price
  • Growing active addresses
  • Exchange outflows

2. The Distribution Pattern

  • Smart money outflows
  • High volume on price rises
  • Decreasing active addresses
  • Exchange inflows

3. The Breakout Setup

  • Consolidating price
  • Increasing smart money holdings
  • Rising on-chain activity
  • Volume expansion beginning

Tips and Best Practices

Do’s

  • ✅ Start with fewer filters and add gradually
  • ✅ Cross-reference with Token God Mode for deep dives
  • ✅ Save successful screener configurations
  • ✅ Monitor saved screens regularly
  • ✅ Combine on-chain and market metrics

Don’ts

  • ❌ Over-filter (may miss opportunities)
  • ❌ Rely on single metrics
  • ❌ Ignore market conditions
  • ❌ Chase extreme movements
  • ❌ Forget to verify liquidity

Troubleshooting

No results showing?

  • Broaden your filter criteria
  • Check if filters are conflicting
  • Ensure correct chain is selected

Too many results?

  • Add more specific filters
  • Narrow market cap range
  • Include smart money criteria

Data seems outdated?

  • Refresh the page
  • Check last update timestamp
  • Verify your connection

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Find Hidden Gems

Create a screener to find:

  • Tokens under $100M market cap
  • With positive smart money flow (7d)
  • And increasing active addresses

Exercise 2: Spot Rotation

Build a filter for:

  • Large cap tokens (>$1B)
  • With smart money accumulation
  • But negative 7d price performance

Exercise 3: Early Detection

Design a screener for:

  • First Mover Score > 80
  • Market cap $10M-$50M
  • Volume increasing >100% (24h)

Next Steps

  • Explore Smart Money tracking for deeper wallet analysis
  • Use Token God Mode for comprehensive token research
  • Create multiple screeners for different market conditions
  • Join the community to share successful strategies

Ready to track the smart money? Continue to our Smart Money Tutorial