Maximal Extractable Value (MEV)
Also known as: Miner Extractable Value
The maximum value that miners/validators can extract from block reordering, censorship, or front‑running.
Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) refers to the additional profit that block producers—miners or validators—can extract by strategically ordering, including, or excluding transactions. Common MEV strategies include front‑running, back‑running, sandwich attacks, and liquidation positioning. MEV can lead to network centralization, unfair market conditions, and increased transaction costs, but solutions like MEV-boost, fair ordering, and flashbots aim to mitigate negative effects while enabling value-sharing with users.