How Does the Legal Definition of “Insider Trading” Apply to Front-Running?

Insider trading is trading based on material, non-public information (MNPI) in breach of a duty of trust or confidence. Front-running is a specific form of insider trading.

It involves an intermediary using MNPI about a client's pending order to trade for personal profit, which is a breach of their fiduciary duty to the client. In the crypto context, a CEX employee front-running a client's order is a clear case of insider trading.

Why Is Front-Running on DEXs Often Considered a Systemic Feature Rather than Illegal Activity?
What Are the Challenges in Applying Traditional Finance Regulations to DeFi?
Does the “Know Your Customer” (KYC) Rule Apply to the Enforcement of Fiduciary Duty?
Define the Term ‘Fiduciary Duty’ in the Context of Financial Intermediaries
What Regulatory Frameworks Govern Front-Running in Traditional Options and Derivatives Markets?
Define the “Fiduciary Duty” Concept in the Context of a Traditional Financial Broker
How Does the Lack of a Central Intermediary in a DEX Complicate the Enforcement of Anti-Front-Running Rules?
How Does the SEC Define Insider Trading in the Context of Crypto Assets?

Glossar

Exchange Insider Trading Crypto

Information ⎊ Exchange insider trading in crypto involves utilizing non-public information about upcoming events, such as token listings or major announcements, to execute profitable trades before the information becomes public knowledge.

Genuine Trade Definition

Execution ⎊ Genuine trade definition within cryptocurrency derivatives centers on the verifiable fulfillment of contractual obligations, specifically relating to the exchange of underlying assets or cash flows at a predetermined price and date.

Max Fee per Gas Definition

Definition ⎊ The Max Fee per Gas Definition specifies the absolute upper limit a transaction sender is willing to pay for each unit of computational effort, or gas, consumed during execution.

Margin Balance Definition

Definition ⎊ The Margin Balance represents the total value of assets held in a trader's derivatives account that is available to cover potential losses and satisfy margin requirements for open positions.

Extrinsic Value Definition Options

Valuation ⎊ The determination of an option's premium is partitioned into two primary elements: the amount by which the option is in-the-money, and the speculative component reflecting future uncertainty.

Increment Size Definition

Definition ⎊ This specifies the smallest permissible non-zero change in the price or quantity of an order or quote within an exchange's order book.

Slippage Definition in Crypto

Definition ⎊ Slippage, within cryptocurrency markets and derivative instruments, represents the difference between the expected price of an order and the price at which the order is ultimately executed.

Unrealized Losses Definition

Loss ⎊ An unrealized loss represents a decrease in the value of an asset or portfolio position that has not yet been sold or closed.

Arbitrageur Definition

Action ⎊ An arbitrageur executes simultaneous transactions to capitalize on price discrepancies for an asset across multiple markets.

Predatory Front-Running

Action ⎊ Predatory Front-Running is the unethical and often illegal trading action where an actor, possessing privileged knowledge of a pending transaction, executes their own trade ahead of the victim's order to profit from the anticipated price movement.