Formalizing MEV: Rigorous Model Enables Provable Blockchain Security → Research

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Briefing

The pervasive challenge of Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) attacks on public blockchains has revealed a critical deficiency in their theoretical foundations, enabling adversaries to exploit transaction ordering for substantial financial gain. This research proposes a foundational theory of MEV, establishing a general, abstract model of blockchain systems and smart contracts that rigorously defines universal MEV and axiomatizes adversarial knowledge. This theoretical advancement provides the essential framework for developing provably secure protocols against these economic attacks, thereby promising a more equitable and robust future for blockchain architecture through systemic value extraction mitigation.

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Context

Before this research, Maximal Extractable Value was primarily understood through empirical observations and informal analyses, lacking a robust theoretical foundation. This absence limited the rigorous analysis and development of provably secure countermeasures against sophisticated economic attacks, posing a significant challenge to the long-term integrity and fairness of public blockchain networks. The prevailing theoretical limitation centered on the inability to formally define MEV and characterize adversarial capabilities with precision.

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Analysis

The paper’s core contribution is the development of a comprehensive, abstract model that formalizes Maximal Extractable Value. This model precisely defines how adversaries manipulate transaction ordering, insertion, or dropping within blocks to extract value from smart contracts. It fundamentally differs from previous approaches by providing a mathematical framework, allowing for a systematic analysis of MEV rather than relying solely on empirical data. This abstract representation enables the precise characterization of MEV vulnerabilities and the design of verifiable mitigation strategies, moving beyond informal observations to a rigorous theoretical understanding.

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Parameters

Core Concept → Maximal Extractable Value
New Primitive/Model → Formal Theory of MEV
Key Authors → Massimo Bartoletti, Roberto Zunino
Publication Date → May 25, 2025 (v5)
Problem Addressed → Insufficient theoretical foundations for MEV attacks

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Outlook

This formal theory of MEV establishes new avenues for research into provably secure blockchain protocols and robust smart contract designs. Within the next three to five years, this foundational work is expected to catalyze the development of novel MEV mitigation strategies and tools, potentially enabling the creation of more robust and equitable decentralized applications. Real-world applications could include DeFi protocols with inherent MEV resistance, significantly enhancing user trust and promoting greater capital efficiency by minimizing value extraction by malicious actors, thereby shaping the future of decentralized finance.

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Verdict

This research provides an indispensable theoretical framework for understanding and mitigating Maximal Extractable Value, fundamentally advancing the provable security of blockchain protocols and cryptographic systems.

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