MEV (Maximal Extractable Value)
MEV is the profit extractable by reordering, inserting, or censoring transactions within a block. Searchers and validators compete to capture value from other users' transactions.
Understanding the Concept
MEV is the invisible tax on DeFi users. Sandwich attacks front-run your swap, pump the price, let you buy high, then dump—taking the difference. Liquidation bots race to claim your collateral when positions go underwater. Arbitrage bots exploit price differences before you can. MEV extraction costs DeFi users billions annually. Protect yourself: use private mempools (Flashbots), set tight slippage tolerance, avoid large swaps in single transactions. MEV is a rabbit hole—understanding it helps you trade smarter and avoid being the exit liquidity.
Real-World Example
You swap $50,000 USDC for ETH on Uniswap. A MEV bot sees your pending transaction, front-runs with a buy (pumping price), lets your swap execute at a worse rate, then sells into you. You received 0.5% less ETH. The bot pockets the difference.
How Strykr Helps
Strykr tracks MEV developments across the crypto ecosystem. Our AI provides real-time insights and alerts to help you navigate the market with confidence.
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