The Role of MEV: Risks and Opportunities

Hey everyone,

Lately I’ve been reading about MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) and wondering what role it might play in the Unit Zero ecosystem. MEV typically refers to the profit that validators or other actors can make by reordering, inserting, or censoring transactions within a block. While the topic has mostly come up around Ethereum, especially with the rise of DEXs and DeFi, it’s something every L1 and L2 project should probably take seriously.

One question I have is how Unit Zero plans to handle MEV risks as activity grows on-chain. Are there any protocol-level protections in place? Is there a roadmap to make the network MEV-resistant or at least MEV-aware? I’ve seen some projects explore options like encrypted mempools, fair ordering protocols, or even redistributing MEV profits back to users and developers.

At the same time, there’s a case to be made for treating MEV as a feature, not just a problem—especially if there are ways to channel it transparently. If anyone knows of tools or research we could look into applying here, I’d love to hear more. Curious what others think about this—should MEV be minimized, managed, or embraced? And how might this shape how apps are built in the Units ecosystem?