MEV-aware Design

Definition ∞ MEV-aware design refers to the architectural choices made in blockchain protocols and decentralized applications to address or mitigate the effects of Miner Extractable Value (MEV). MEV represents the profit that miners or validators can obtain by arbitrarily including, excluding, or reordering transactions within a block. An MEV-aware design aims to reduce the negative consequences of this practice, such as front-running or sandwich attacks, for regular users. It seeks to create a more equitable and efficient transaction environment.
Context ∞ MEV-aware design is a significant area of research and development in the blockchain community, particularly for networks like Ethereum. The key discussion revolves around various strategies to minimize MEV’s impact, including proposer-builder separation and encrypted transaction pools. News often covers new protocol upgrades or application designs that incorporate these considerations to improve user experience and network fairness. Addressing MEV remains a complex technical and economic challenge.