Cross-Chain MEV

Cross-chain MEV is value extracted from price differences, arbitrage opportunities, or transaction ordering that span multiple blockchain networks. Unlike single-chain MEV (limited to one network’s block space), cross-chain MEV requires coordinating execution across independent consensus mechanisms with different block times and finality guarantees. Common cross-chain MEV strategies include: cross-chain atomic arbitrage (buying on Ethereum, selling on Arbitrum), bridge-based liquidation (monitoring a lending protocol on one chain and executing liquidation on another where the collateral or debt is held), and cross-chain sandwich attacks (front-running on the source chain while back-running on the destination). Cross-chain MEV is harder to capture than single-chain because of asynchronous execution risk — a partial fill on one chain may not be matchable on the other. Intent-based solvers that maintain inventory across chains are currently the primary cross-chain arbitrageurs.

Related terms

• MEV
• Atomic Arbitrage
• Intent-Based Architecture
• Solver