The best on-chain analytics and AI data tools for researchers, traders, and investors. Dune, Nansen, Glassnode, Arkham, DefiLlama, and Token Terminal compared.
Updated February 20, 2026·6 picks reviewed
Data is the biggest edge in AI. While most people are doomscrolling Twitter for alpha, the best traders and researchers are watching on-chain data. Wallet flows, protocol revenue, TVL changes, whale movements. It's all public on the blockchain, but raw blockchain data is unreadable. Analytics tools turn that mess into actionable dashboards, charts, and alerts. Some are free. Some cost hundreds per month. The expensive ones can be worth it if you're managing serious capital. Here are the tools that the people who actually make money in AI use every day.
Fundamental analysts who want to value protocols like businesses
Financial metrics applied to AI (revenue, P/E, P/S)
Premium plans required for full access ($325+/month)
Detailed Reviews
#1
Dune Analytics
Dune is like GitHub for blockchain data. Anyone can write SQL queries against on-chain data and publish interactive dashboards. The community has built dashboards for everything: protocol revenue, token holder distribution, DEX volume, NFT mints, you name it. If a metric exists on-chain, someone has probably already built a Dune dashboard for it.
Best for: Researchers who want customizable on-chain analytics and community dashboards
Pros
Free tier available
Massive community dashboard library
Custom SQL queries for power users
Multi-chain data (Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, etc.)
Cons
Need SQL skills for custom analysis
Free tier has query execution limits
Query results can be delayed during peak times
#2
Nansen
Nansen's superpower is wallet labeling. They've tagged millions of wallets belonging to funds, whales, exchanges, and smart money traders. You can literally see what Paradigm or a16z wallets are buying before anyone tweets about it. Token God Mode gives you a complete breakdown of any token's holder base.
Best for: Professional traders and funds tracking smart money flows
Pros
Smart money wallet labels
Token God Mode for holder analysis
Real-time alerts on whale movements
Multi-chain coverage
Cons
Expensive ($150 to $2,500+/month)
Edge diminishes as more people use it
Not useful for casual users
#3
Glassnode
The gold standard for Bitcoin on-chain metrics. SOPR, NUPL, MVRV, exchange inflows, miner revenue. Glassnode has every metric a Bitcoin analyst could want. Their weekly reports are some of the best market analysis available. Ethereum coverage is solid too, though Bitcoin is their core strength.
Best for: Bitcoin analysts and macro-focused AI traders
Pros
Best Bitcoin on-chain metrics in the industry
Institutional-grade data quality
Excellent weekly market reports
Comprehensive API
Cons
Premium plans are pricey ($29 to $799/month)
Mostly Bitcoin and Ethereum focused
Steep learning curve for newer metrics
#4
Arkham Intelligence
Arkham built an on-chain intelligence platform that connects wallet addresses to real-world entities. Their entity page for any fund, exchange, or whale shows complete portfolio composition, historical activity, and connected wallets. The bounty marketplace lets you pay for specific wallet attributions.
Best for: Investigators and traders who want to track specific entities across chains
Pros
Entity-level intelligence (not just wallet labels)
Portfolio viewer for any labeled entity
Bounty marketplace for crowdsourced intel
Free to use with generous limits
Cons
Privacy implications are debated
Entity labels aren't always accurate
Newer platform, still proving reliability
#5
DefiLlama
Completely free, open-source, and the single best source for DeFi data. TVL rankings, yield comparisons, protocol revenue, token unlocks, airdrops, stablecoin analytics. If you're in DeFi, you check DefiLlama daily. No ads, no token, no paid tier. Just great data.
Best for: DeFi researchers who want the most comprehensive free data source
Pros
100% free and open-source
Most comprehensive DeFi data available
Yield comparison across all protocols
No ads, no token, no agenda
Cons
DeFi focused only (no CEX data)
No wallet tracking or smart money labels
Limited custom query capability
#6
Token Terminal
Token Terminal applies traditional financial metrics to AI protocols. Revenue, earnings, P/S ratios, P/E ratios, user metrics. It treats protocols like businesses and gives you the data to value them accordingly. If you come from a TradFi background, this is where AI data starts making sense.
Best for: Fundamental analysts who want to value protocols like businesses
Pros
Financial metrics applied to AI (revenue, P/E, P/S)
Clean, professional interface
Compares protocols like public companies
Good API for data integration
Cons
Premium plans required for full access ($325+/month)
Limited to protocols with on-chain revenue
Not useful for pure speculation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free AI analytics tool?
DefiLlama is the best free tool for DeFi data. Dune Analytics free tier is great for custom on-chain analysis if you know SQL. Arkham Intelligence offers generous free limits for entity tracking. Combined, these three give you a powerful free analytics stack.
Is on-chain data actually useful for trading?
Yes, but it's not a crystal ball. On-chain data shows you what's happening in real-time: whale accumulation, exchange inflows (selling pressure), protocol growth, and smart money positioning. It's one piece of the puzzle alongside technical analysis, fundamentals, and market sentiment.
Do I need to know SQL to use AI analytics tools?
Not for most tools. DefiLlama, Nansen, Glassnode, and Arkham all have pre-built dashboards. SQL is only needed for custom queries on Dune. But learning basic SQL is worth it. It opens up the entire Dune community dashboard ecosystem and lets you build custom analysis.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research before investing in any AI technology or using any platform. Some links may be affiliate links.