Key Points
• Integrated analysis and execution now live on Solana and Base with a unified workflow
• Nansen connects on-chain analytics to trade execution, with user approvals and rule controls active
• Partners include Jupiter, OKX DEX, and LI.FI, with a self-custodied wallet by Privy
• Access rolls out to eligible users, with restrictions in several jurisdictions confirmed
The Nansen AI agent launches with a focus on unifying research and execution for traders.
Although the Nansen AI Agent is intended to make it easier for on-chain traders to get actionable intelligence to inform their trading decisions and to eliminate unnecessary friction at the same time, it does so by providing a single place for all of the key functions required by an on-chain trader to complete their daily activities. This means that instead of having to log into different dashboards, explore blockchains, and manage multiple wallets, a trader can now find all of the information they need to conduct their business in one place.
As such, users can obtain all of the necessary information to complete a trading activity (insights, approvals, and settlements) within the same platform, which reduces the amount of time spent navigating different platforms during high volume and/or volatile market conditions.
Traders Retain Full Control over Accounts
In addition to reducing the amount of time a trader spends completing a trading activity, Nansen has also built-in controls that ensure the trader retains full control over their account and the decisions they make regarding how to manage their money. The controls include setting rules to guide the trader’s activity and the requirement for the trader to confirm every transaction prior to being executed. By doing so, Nansen ensures that a trader’s intent remains transparent and that the trader can take full responsibility for their own financial decisions, which many traders value in terms of maintaining their security during times of extreme volatility in the markets.
Additionally, Nansen provides the transparency needed to understand why the AI trading agent is suggesting a particular course of action. Users will be able to see the reasoning behind the suggestion provided by the agent, view the wallet labels, token flows, and liquidity snapshots associated with the suggested strategy before executing any orders. This type of transparency will provide both experienced trading desks and new entrants into the space with the clarity they need to be successful in a manner that is guided by responsible safeguards.
The partners to Nansen provide additional support in terms of expanding the breadth of coverage, as Jupiter aggregates liquidity from the Solana ecosystem, and OKX DEX provides efficient execution of base blockchain swaps. Additionally, LI.FI maintains route discovery across the various blockchain ecosystems, which will enable the AI trading agent to identify entry points that require specific asset locations.
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THE NANSEN AI AGENT MOVES FROM SIGNALS TO ORDERS
The Nansen AI agent is part of a larger trend in the development of AI assistants used to assist with operations in cryptocurrency trading. Many exchanges and protocols have developed tools that utilize software agents to automate repetitive tasks related to the operation of trading and other back-office functions. However, Nansen enters the marketplace with a unique data advantage, due to the fact that their labeled wallets provide the context behind large amounts of transactional flow activity.
For example, when a fund builds a position in a particular asset, the labeled activity of the fund provides the context for leaderboards and alerts in the user interface. In turn, the user can leverage the context provided in the labeled activity to create an entry or exit in the respective asset, with the AI trading agent assisting with the decision-making process.
According to Alex Svanevik, CEO of Nansen, the current release represents the largest product release in the history of the company. He stated that the strong signals for investors enabled the release of the mobile product, followed by the release of direct execution. “We’re now closing the loop,” Svanevik said, “by allowing users to execute trades directly in our product.”
PARTNERS, POLICY, AND PROTECTIONS SHAPE USER EXPERIENCE
One of the primary concerns that exists regarding the adoption of automated systems, including AI trading agents, is the potential for increased risk to both traders and the protocols that exist across the various ecosystems. To address these concerns, Nansen has taken the approach of ensuring that the agent never takes custody of the trader’s assets. Instead, the agent operates with a self-custodied wallet that resides with the user and manages the user’s assets throughout the trading experience.
Furthermore, Nansen has implemented controls that allow the user to set rules to govern their trading activity, including the ability to limit the size of trades, define the types of tokens allowed, and define the number of networks available for trading. These controls help minimize errors made by traders during fast-moving markets, and record prompts help facilitate reviews by trading teams.
Research has been conducted for many years on agents that were designed to exploit vulnerabilities in contracts found in testing environments. Teams continue to analyze the results of this research and work towards implementing safer default options and improving the review processes that occur prior to approving transactions. The approach that Nansen has taken is consistent with this direction and continues to balance the convenience of using the system with the accountability that is expected by the user community.
On-chain analytics will continue to drive the trading decisions made by the trader community, and Nansen has outlined plans to expand the scope of its network support in the future. As Nansen expands its coverage, traders will likely expect to see increased levels of data density and deeper liquidity in the event that they wish to construct complex orders.
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PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS FOR TEAMS ADOPTING AN AI TRADING AGENT
Before a team enables trading workflows utilizing an AI trading agent, they should develop clear policies for prompts, approvals, and logs. They should begin by having desk personnel read-only explore the trading dashboard, and then transition them to small trades under strict rule sets. Operations personnel should assess the reliability of their partners and the fees associated with their services, particularly regarding Jupiter, OKX DEX, and LI.FI. Risk management personnel should test the self-custodied wallet configuration, recovery procedures, and multi-device accessibility.
Analysts should establish benchmarks for alert performance based on labeled wallets versus manual research during previous market cycles. Product managers should solicit user input concerning the level of transparency, speed, and clarity of the system during busy market hours. Engineers should test the AI trading agent under stress conditions to determine how it handles failures and fallback paths. Finally, leadership should assess whether the integrated nature of the solution creates shorter time frames between receiving signals and informed trade execution.