Blocky saysMEV is value extracted by reordering, inserting, or censoring transactions in a block.
Because block producers choose transaction order, they (or searchers paying them) can extract Maximal Extractable Value: front-running a big trade, back-running it, or sandwiching a victim's swap to profit from the price move. MEV is a tax on ordinary users and a centralizing pressure. The public mempool is what exposes pending transactions to this.
Power-ups you unlock
Profit from controlling transaction order
Front-run, back-run, sandwich attacks
A hidden tax on regular users
Enabled by the public mempool
Double-Spend Dan attacks — common mistakes
Assuming transaction order is neutral
Big swaps on-chain with no slippage protection
Ignoring MEV when designing protocols
Boss battleDescribe how a sandwich attack profits from a victim’s large swap.
Example code
<!doctype html><html><head><meta charset="utf-8"></head>
<body style="background:#06040d;color:#e6e0ff;font-family:monospace;padding:20px"><pre>see victim’s big buy in mempool →
buy before (price up) → victim buys higher → sell after
= sandwich profit</pre></body></html>