# What Is Front-Running in the Context of Decentralized Exchanges? ⎊ Path

**Published:** 2025-12-04
**Author:** Greeks.live
**Categories:** Path

---

## What Is Front-Running in the Context of Decentralized Exchanges?

Front-running on decentralized exchanges (DEXs) occurs when an attacker observes a profitable transaction pending in the public mempool. The attacker then copies this transaction but submits their own with a higher transaction fee (gas).

This incentivizes network validators to process the attacker's transaction first. The attacker profits from the price movement caused by the victim's original, now-delayed transaction.

This is a common form of Maximal Extractable Value (MEV).

- [How Does Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) Relate to Front-Running in DeFi?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-maximal-extractable-value-mev-relate-to-front-running-in-defi/)

- [What Role Does Transaction Transparency in the Mempool Play in Enabling Front-Running?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-role-does-transaction-transparency-in-the-mempool-play-in-enabling-front-running/)

- [How Does Front-Running Relate to MEV and Fair Transaction Ordering?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-front-running-relate-to-mev-and-fair-transaction-ordering/)

- [What Is a “Front-Running” Attack in DeFi and How Does It Undermine Trustless Execution?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-is-a-front-running-attack-in-defi-and-how-does-it-undermine-trustless-execution/)

- [What Is the Difference between Front-Running on a CEX versus a DEX?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-is-the-difference-between-front-running-on-a-cex-versus-a-dex/)

- [What Is a “Front-Running” Attack in the Context of a Low-Throughput Chain?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-is-a-front-running-attack-in-the-context-of-a-low-throughput-chain/)

- [What Is the Risk of Front-Running in Decentralized Options Trading?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-is-the-risk-of-front-running-in-decentralized-options-trading/)

- [What Role Do Gas Fees Play in the Profitability of a Front-Running Attack?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-role-do-gas-fees-play-in-the-profitability-of-a-front-running-attack/)

## Glossar

### [Maximal Extractable Value](https://learn.greeks.live/area/maximal-extractable-value/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)

Concept ⎊ Maximal Extractable Value, or MEV, refers to the profit that miners or validators can extract by strategically reordering, censoring, or inserting transactions within a block.

### [Transaction Ordering](https://learn.greeks.live/area/transaction-ordering/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)

Sequencing ⎊ Transaction ordering within cryptocurrency, options, and derivatives markets establishes the chronological execution of trades, critical for maintaining systemic integrity and preventing manipulation.

### [Decentralized Exchanges](https://learn.greeks.live/area/decentralized-exchanges/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)

Access ⎊ These platforms offer permissionless entry to cryptocurrency and tokenized asset markets, democratizing capital deployment into novel financial structures.

## Discover More

### [Can Front-Running Occur on a Request for Quote (RFQ) Options Platform?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/can-front-running-occur-on-a-request-for-quote-rfq-options-platform/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![Can Front-Running Occur on a Request for Quote (RFQ) Options Platform?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Intertwined-Digital-Assets-and-Option-Volatility-Surfaces-Modeling-Abstract-Representation.webp)

Yes, a market maker on an RFQ platform could front-run by using the client's non-public quote request to trade the underlying asset before fulfilling the quote.

### [What Is "Front-Running" and How Is It Exacerbated by a Large Mempool?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-is-front-running-and-how-is-it-exacerbated-by-a-large-mempool/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![What Is "Front-Running" and How Is It Exacerbated by a Large Mempool?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Cryptocurrency-Derivative-Mechanism-Disassembly-Revealing-Atomic-Swap-Settlement-Infrastructure.webp)

An entity executes a trade ahead of a pending one to profit; a large mempool makes it easier for bots to identify and bid higher fees to front-run.

### [How Does Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) Relate to the Concept of Front-Running in DeFi?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-maximal-extractable-value-mev-relate-to-the-concept-of-front-running-in-defi/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![How Does Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) Relate to the Concept of Front-Running in DeFi?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Crystalline-Stratification-of-Decentralized-Finance-Volatility-Index-Within-Automated-Market-Maker-Mechanism.webp)

Front-running is a specific, malicious form of Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) extracted by reordering or censoring transactions.

### [How Does Front-Running Occur in the Context of Smart Contracts?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-front-running-occur-in-the-context-of-smart-contracts/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![How Does Front-Running Occur in the Context of Smart Contracts?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Chrome-Finial-Intersection-Above-Neglected-Digital-Asset-Ledger-Reflecting-Market-Volatility.webp)

Front-running is when a user with access to pending transactions exploits that information for their own profit.

### [Explain the Concept of a 'Commit-Reveal Scheme' as an Anti-Front-Running Measure](https://learn.greeks.live/path/explain-the-concept-of-a-commit-reveal-scheme-as-an-anti-front-running-measure/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![Explain the Concept of a 'Commit-Reveal Scheme' as an Anti-Front-Running Measure](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Micro-Electromechanical-Systems-Encoding-Quantum-Settlement-Finality-in-Decentralized-Finance-Oracles.webp)

A user first submits a hidden hash (commit) to prove intent, then reveals the transaction details (reveal) after the block is finalized, preventing mempool snooping.

### [How Does the Concept of "Slippage Tolerance" Relate to Front-Running on AMMs?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-the-concept-of-slippage-tolerance-relate-to-front-running-on-amms/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![How Does the Concept of "Slippage Tolerance" Relate to Front-Running on AMMs?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Crossover-Point-Intersection-of-Volatility-Skew-and-Algorithmic-Trading-Execution-on-Decoupled-Digital-Asset-Ledger.webp)

High slippage tolerance increases front-running vulnerability because it gives the attacker a wider range to execute the victim's trade at a worse price.

### [What Role Does Transaction Transparency in the Mempool Play in Enabling Front-Running?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-role-does-transaction-transparency-in-the-mempool-play-in-enabling-front-running/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![What Role Does Transaction Transparency in the Mempool Play in Enabling Front-Running?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Geometric-Abstraction-Visualizing-Decentralized-Finance-Option-Volatility-Surface-Structure.webp)

The public mempool provides visibility into pending, profitable transactions, allowing bots to pay higher fees to execute trades first.

### [How Does the Design of a DEX Prevent Front-Running in Large Trades?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-the-design-of-a-dex-prevent-front-running-in-large-trades/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![How Does the Design of a DEX Prevent Front-Running in Large Trades?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Quantum-Ledger-Imbalance-Visualization-via-Tokenized-Instrument-Settlement-Mechanics.webp)

By using mechanisms like batch auctions, which execute all trades over a period at a single price, eliminating the ability to profit from transaction ordering.

### [How Does the Shift to Proof-of-Stake Affect MEV and Front-Running Dynamics?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-the-shift-to-proof-of-stake-affect-mev-and-front-running-dynamics/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![How Does the Shift to Proof-of-Stake Affect MEV and Front-Running Dynamics?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Conceptual-Intersection-of-Digital-Asset-Securitization-and-Bear-Put-Option-Settlement-Dynamics.webp)

PoS shifts block production from miners to validators, introducing PBS to mitigate centralized MEV control but not eliminating the potential for front-running.

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**Original URL:** https://learn.greeks.live/learn/what-is-front-running-in-the-context-of-decentralized-exchanges/
