SotN#16 - EXPLORING w/ Dan Robinson (Mempool Monsters, Optimism Launch, MEV, ETH/BTC Correlation with legacy, KuCoin Hack, FEW, Spinalda)

Sep 30, 2020

Dan Robinson, a leading researcher at Paradigm, dives deep into Ethereum's intriguing mempool and the complexities of miner extractable value (MEV). He uses the 'dark forest' analogy to highlight the competitive nature of transactions and the risks of front-running. Robinson also discusses the recent advancements in optimistic rollups by Optimism and why cryptocurrencies are still correlated with stocks. The conversation touches on the implications of centralized exchange hacks, urging investors to take individual responsibility in the decentralized landscape.

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INSIGHT

Ethereum's Dark Forest

The Ethereum mempool is where pending transactions wait for confirmation.
This waiting period is dangerous, as transactions are visible and vulnerable to manipulation.

ANECDOTE

The $12k Retrieval Attempt

Dan Robinson and Georgios Konstantopoulos tried to retrieve $12,000 stuck in a smart contract.
A generalized frontrunner bot beat them to it, highlighting the dark forest risks.

INSIGHT

MEV and Miner Manipulation

Miners, or bots, can exploit Miner Extractable Value (MEV) by reordering transactions.
This creates an uneven playing field where sophisticated actors can profit from others' transactions.

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🚀 SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER: http://bankless.substack.com/ ✊ STARTING GUIDE BANKLESS: https://bit.ly/37Q17uI ❤️ JOIN PRIVATE DISCORD: https://bit.ly/2UVI10O 🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST: http://podcast.banklesshq.com/ 👕 BUY BANKLESS TEE: https://merch.banklesshq.com/ ----- GO BANKLESS WITH THESE SPONSOR TOOLS: 🌐 UNSTOPPABLE DOMAINS - HUMAN READABLE ETHEREUM & CRYPTO ADDRESSES https://bankless.cc/unstoppable 🌈 ZAPPER - ULTIMATE HUB FOR DEFI - ZAP INTO DEFI http://bankless.cc/zapper 💳 MONOLITH - GET THE HOLY GRAIL OF BANKLESS VISA CARDS https://bankless.cc/monolith 🌈AAVE - LEND & BORROW YOUR CRYPTO W/O A BANK https://bankless.cc/aave ------ State of the Nation is EXPLORING, special guest Dan Robinson of Paradigm. 1) ETHEREUM'S DARK FOREST Short article from Dan: https://medium.com/@danrobinson/ethereum-is-a-dark-forest-ecc5f0505dff Unofficial Part 2 From samczsun https://samczsun.com/escaping-the-dark-forest/ 2) OPTIMISTIC ROLLUPS LIVE! Launch post!https://medium.com/@optimismPBC/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-c390a05bbcb8 3) LIGHTNING ROUND - Why isn't crypto uncorrelated w/ stocks? - KuCoin hack showed who's centralized - $FEW and $EMN - Spinalda Testnet ------ Don't stop at the video! Subscribe to the Bankless newsletter program http://bankless.substack.com/ Visit the official Bankless website for resources http://banklesshq.com/ Follow Bankless on Twitter https://twitter.com/BanklessHQ Follow Ryan on Twitter https://twitter.com/ryansadams Follow David on Twitter https://twitter.com/TrustlessState ----- Not financial or tax advice. This channel is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. This video is not tax advice. Talk to your accountant. Do your own research. Disclosure. From time-to-time we may add links in this channel to products we use. We may receive commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. We'll always disclose when this is the case.