HomeKnowledge BaseHow to evaluate wallet performance with Nansen

How to evaluate wallet performance with Nansen

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Published Mar 12, 2025, 3:23 PM

Nansen evaluates wallet performance through several key indicators that provide a comprehensive picture of trading success. Return on investment (ROI) serves as the primary metric, measuring the percentage gain or loss across all positions. For example, a wallet that invested $100,000 and currently holds positions worth $350,000 would demonstrate a 250% ROI.

Absolute profit represents the dollar value of gains, which helps identify wallets generating substantial returns regardless of initial capital. A wallet showing $2.5 million in absolute profit indicates significant successful trading activity, even if the percentage return appears modest due to large initial investments.

Time-weighted returns account for the duration of positions, distinguishing between quick gains and long-term accumulation strategies. A wallet achieving 500% returns over six months demonstrates different skill sets compared to one generating similar returns over two years.

Nansen tracks the percentage of profitable trades for each wallet, providing insight into consistency and risk management capabilities. The platform categorizes trades as wins or losses based on entry and exit prices, factoring in transaction costs and slippage—the difference between expected and actual execution prices.

Consider a wallet that executed 150 trades over six months. If 95 trades resulted in profits while 55 resulted in losses, this wallet demonstrates a 63% success rate. However, the platform also weighs trade sizes, so ten large profitable trades might outweigh twenty small losing positions in terms of overall performance impact.

The system also evaluates average win-to-loss ratios. A wallet with an average winning trade of $50,000 and average losing trade of $15,000 shows strong risk management, even with a lower win rate. This 3.33:1 win-loss ratio indicates the wallet cuts losses quickly while allowing profitable positions to develop.

Performance evaluation extends beyond simple profit calculations to examine token selection accuracy and market timing. Nansen analyzes how early wallets enter positions relative to significant price movements, measuring the gap between initial purchases and major upward trends.

For instance, a wallet that accumulated tokens three weeks before a protocol's major announcement and subsequent 400% price increase demonstrates superior market insight. The platform tracks these patterns across multiple positions to identify wallets with consistent early-entry capabilities.

Exit timing receives equal scrutiny. Wallets that consistently sell near local peaks or before major corrections earn higher performance scores. Understanding when to exit positions proves as crucial as identifying entry opportunities, particularly in cryptocurrency markets known for their volatility.

Nansen evaluates portfolio diversification by analyzing token concentration and sector allocation. Wallets maintaining balanced exposure across decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming, infrastructure, and other sectors while avoiding over-concentration in single positions demonstrate sophisticated risk management.

The platform measures position sizing relative to total portfolio value. A wallet allocating no more than 5% to any single speculative token while maintaining larger positions in established assets like Ethereum shows disciplined risk management. Conversely, wallets concentrating 50% of holdings in single alternative cryptocurrencies receive lower risk-adjusted performance scores.

Correlation analysis identifies wallets that successfully avoid clustering investments in highly correlated assets. During market downturns, portfolios spread across uncorrelated sectors typically outperform concentrated positions, as diversification provides natural hedging against sector-specific risks.

Long-term performance tracking reveals whether success results from skill or temporary market conditions. Nansen analyzes performance across different market cycles, identifying wallets that maintain profitability during both bull and bear markets.

A wallet demonstrating consistent monthly returns between 8-15% over eighteen months, regardless of overall market direction, indicates sustainable trading strategies. The platform flags wallets showing extreme performance variations, such as 200% gains followed by 80% losses, as potentially benefiting from luck rather than demonstrable skill.

Seasonal performance analysis helps identify specialization patterns. Some wallets excel during specific market phases, such as periods of intense DeFi activity or NFT market expansion, while others maintain steady performance across all conditions.

Nansen compares individual wallet performance against relevant benchmarks, including overall market returns, sector-specific indices, and peer groups. A wallet generating 150% annual returns appears impressive until compared to a market that gained 300% during the same period.

The platform segments wallets by capital size for fair comparison. A wallet starting with $10,000 faces different constraints and opportunities compared to one beginning with $10 million. Performance evaluation accounts for these differences through size-adjusted metrics that recognize the unique challenges of different capital levels.

Geographic and temporal factors also influence benchmarking. Wallets active primarily during Asian trading hours may face different market conditions than those operating during U.S. market hours, requiring adjusted performance expectations based on regional trading patterns and liquidity conditions.

Beyond simple buy-and-sell tracking, Nansen examines transaction patterns to understand trading behavior. Frequency analysis identifies whether wallets engage in high-frequency trading, swing trading over days or weeks, or long-term accumulation strategies spanning months or years.

The platform tracks transaction costs as a percentage of position sizes, identifying wallets that minimize fee impact through strategic timing and exchange selection. Wallets consistently paying less than 0.5% in transaction costs per trade demonstrate operational efficiency that meaningfully impacts long-term returns.

Nansen also analyzes withdrawal and deposit patterns to understand cash management strategies. Wallets that strategically move funds between exchanges to capitalize on price differences or optimize lending yields receive recognition for comprehensive portfolio management extending beyond simple trading decisions.

Performance evaluation incorporates broader market intelligence, including correlation with institutional flows, regulatory events, and technical indicators. Wallets that consistently position ahead of major market catalysts demonstrate superior information processing capabilities and market awareness.

The platform tracks wallet reactions to significant events, measuring response speed and directional accuracy. Wallets that quickly repositioned before major market disruptions or increased exposure ahead of positive developments demonstrate valuable market instincts that contribute to sustained performance.

This comprehensive performance evaluation framework enables users to identify genuinely skilled market participants, distinguish between luck and skill, and develop more sophisticated analysis strategies based on quantified wallet capabilities rather than simple profit metrics alone.

Frequently asked questions

How to track successful crypto wallets?

To track successful crypto wallets, focus on multiple performance indicators rather than just profits. Look for wallets with consistent return on investment (ROI) across different market cycles, strong win-to-loss ratios (ideally 3:1 or better), and high trade success rates above 60%. Pay attention to wallets that demonstrate superior market timing by entering positions weeks before major price movements and exiting near local peaks. Successful wallets also show disciplined risk management through diversified portfolios across DeFi, gaming, and infrastructure sectors while avoiding over-concentration in single positions. Track transaction patterns to identify whether wallets use high-frequency trading, swing trading, or long-term accumulation strategies, and monitor their ability to maintain performance during both bull and bear markets.

How to check cryptocurrency performance?

Check cryptocurrency performance by analyzing multiple metrics beyond simple price changes. Calculate ROI by comparing current portfolio value to initial investment, and examine time-weighted returns to understand gains relative to holding periods. Evaluate absolute profit in dollar terms to identify substantial returns regardless of initial capital size. Monitor trade success rates by tracking profitable versus losing positions, factoring in transaction costs and slippage. Assess token selection accuracy by measuring how early positions were entered relative to major price movements. Compare performance against relevant benchmarks including overall market returns, sector-specific indices, and peer groups. Also analyze performance consistency across different market cycles to distinguish between skill-based gains and temporary market luck.

How to check the value of a crypto wallet?

Check crypto wallet value by calculating the total USD worth of all held positions at current market prices. Beyond simple valuation, assess the wallet's performance through ROI calculations - for example, a wallet that invested $100,000 and now holds positions worth $350,000 shows 250% ROI. Analyze portfolio composition including diversification across different sectors and position sizing relative to total portfolio value. Examine transaction history to understand trading patterns, average position sizes, and fee efficiency. Consider both realized and unrealized gains, and factor in transaction costs that may impact net value. For comprehensive evaluation, compare the wallet's performance against market benchmarks and similar-sized wallets operating in the same timeframe.

How to check AML score of crypto wallet?

AML (Anti-Money Laundering) scores for crypto wallets are typically assessed through blockchain analytics platforms that analyze transaction patterns and fund sources. These tools examine wallet interactions with known high-risk addresses, mixing services, darknet markets, and sanctioned entities. The scoring considers transaction frequency, amounts, geographic patterns, and connections to exchanges with strong KYC procedures versus those with weak compliance. Wallets with clean transaction histories, regular interactions with compliant exchanges, and no connections to illicit activities receive higher AML scores. Professional compliance tools like Chainalysis, Elliptic, and TRM Labs provide detailed risk assessments, while some exchanges and DeFi platforms integrate AML screening that may affect wallet interactions and transaction approvals based on risk scores.