Front-running vs Back-running: what's the difference?
The two halves of MEV that bracket your trade.
The short version
The two halves of MEV that bracket your trade.
- Front-running: A bot placing a transaction just before yours to profit from the move it will cause.
- Back-running: A bot placing a transaction just after yours to capture the resulting price move.
Side by side
| Dimension | Front-running | Back-running |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Before your trade | After your trade |
| Profits from | The impact your trade will create | Arbitrage your trade opened |
| Role in a sandwich | The "front" slice | The "back" slice |
| Harm to you | Worse fill (direct) | Usually indirect |
Which one should you care about?
Key idea — Together they form a sandwich. Tighter slippage, smaller size, and private routing reduce your exposure to both.
Knowing the theory is great. Catching it live is better.
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