Malicious Ordering

Definition ∞ Malicious ordering refers to the intentional manipulation of transaction sequence within a block by a validator or block producer to gain an unfair advantage. This can involve front-running legitimate transactions, censoring specific transfers, or reordering operations for personal profit. It represents a form of extractable value from transaction processing.
Context ∞ Malicious ordering is a significant concern in decentralized finance (DeFi) and blockchain networks, often discussed under the broader topic of Maximal Extractable Value (MEV). Solutions to mitigate this problem, such as fair sequencing services and specialized proposer-builder separation designs, are actively being researched and implemented. The ongoing efforts to counter malicious ordering are central to ensuring market fairness and network integrity.