What is MEV and How Miners Earn More Than You Think

3 minutes to read
What is MEV and How Miners Earn More Than You Think
Table of Contents

Mining is not just about block rewards and transaction fees. In reality, experienced network participants earn more than commonly assumed. One of the key sources of this ‘extra income’ is MEV. The term may be new to many, but it has long been a crucial part of blockchain economics, especially in Ethereum and other networks with active DeFi ecosystems.

In this article, we’ll explain what MEV is, how it works, why it’s not always good for regular users, and how it can be a significant source of income for miners, validators, and advanced participants.

What is MEV?

MEV stands for Miner Extractable Value, or, after Ethereum transitions to Proof-of-Stake, Maximal Extractable Value. It refers to additional profit that miners or validators can earn by managing the order of transactions within a block.

Simply put, miners don’t just randomly pack transactions into a block — they can:

  • reorder transactions
  • insert their transaction at the top
  • exclude someone else’s transaction

This is especially important when there’s arbitrage, DeFi liquidations, or front-running opportunities (executing a transaction just before someone else to profit from a price change).

MEV in Action: Real Examples

1. Arbitrage Between DEXes

Suppose a token costs 100 USDC on Uniswap and 102 USDC on Sushiswap. A bot spots this, buys on Uniswap, and sells on Sushiswap. If a validator places their transaction at the top of the block, they profit more than from just transaction fees.

2. Front-Running

A user submits a large buy order. A miner sees it in the mempool and preemptively places their order first, betting the price will rise and they can resell immediately after.

3. Liquidations

In DeFi protocols, borrowers are liquidated when their collateral falls below requirements. Being first to execute a liquidation transaction guarantees a reward. Miners and validators who control transaction ordering benefit the most.

Who Profits from MEV?

  • Miners and Validators — They control block ordering and can extract MEV or sell block space to specialized bots.
  • Flashbots — Bots that scan the mempool for profitable strategies and send bundled transactions via specialized channels like Flashbots RPC.
  • Arbitrageurs and Liquidators — Market participants optimizing their strategies using MEV extraction.

Why MEV Matters for Miners

MEV offers miners additional income beyond base block rewards. At peak times on Ethereum, MEV accounted for up to 20–30% of validator revenue. If you’re only collecting block rewards, you’re leaving money on the table.

With proper infrastructure, MEV can significantly increase mining (or staking) profitability without additional hardware investments.

The Dark Side of MEV

MEV is not just a profit opportunity but also a source of criticism. It can lead to:

  • transaction delays and failures
  • unpredictable DEX pricing
  • increased mining centralization, favoring those integrated with Flashbots infrastructure

However, in most networks, MEV is a permanent feature, not a temporary glitch. The rational approach is to understand and leverage it wisely.

How Miners and Validators Can Earn MEV

Technically, you need to:

  • use clients supporting MEV integrations (e.g., via Flashbots or MEV-Boost)
  • join a mining pool optimized for MEV
  • secure high block production performance with minimal downtime

If you’re mining or choosing a pool, connecting to EMCD with MEV support is an easy way to boost your earnings without extra costs.

Conclusion

MEV is not theoretical — it’s a real revenue stream already shaping blockchain economics. Ignoring MEV means missing out on income, especially in high-activity networks.

That’s why reliable infrastructure and partners matter. EMCD offers not just a stable mining pool, but an ecosystem that helps maximize revenue without unnecessary complexity.

Other articles
Cryptocurrency
What Is Restaking and How Is It Changing DeFi?
Restaking is a new DeFi concept that helps you earn more from the same assets. How it works, key benefits, risks, and examples — all explained in this article.
What Is Restaking and How Is It Changing DeFi?
Cryptocurrency
What Are Reverse Swaps and When Should You Use Them?
Learn how reverse swaps work, who they’re for, and how to use them for hedging and capital growth. Examples, risks, and connections to EMCD mining.
What Are Reverse Swaps and When Should You Use Them?
Cryptocurrency
Yield Comparison: Earning Interest on Stablecoins vs Bank Deposits
We compare the returns of interest-bearing stablecoins and bank deposits. Discover what’s more profitable in 2025 and how to start earning with EMCD CoinHold.
Yield Comparison: Earning Interest on Stablecoins vs Bank Deposits
Cryptocurrency
Overview of TON in 2025: Why It Matters and How to Use It
What is TON in 2025? Explore Telegram blockchain’s real-world uses: transfers, staking, DeFi, NFTs, and startup investments. Secure your TON with EMCD Wallet.
Overview of TON in 2025: Why It Matters and How to Use It
Cryptocurrency
What Are Atomic Swaps And Why Do We Need Them
Atomic swaps let you trade crypto directly without exchanges or risk. Learn how they work, why they matter in 2025, and what challenges they still face.
What Are Atomic Swaps And Why Do We Need Them
Cryptocurrency
Hashrate Explained: How It Affects Your Crypto Profits
A complete guide to hashrate: what it is, how it works, and why it's crucial for your cryptocurrency mining profits and investment returns.
Hashrate Explained: How It Affects Your Crypto Profits
Cryptocurrency
How to Start Mining Crypto from Scratch in 2025
How to mine cryptocurrency in 2025? Best coins, hardware, and mining pools compared. Calculate profitability and avoid common mistakes.
How to Start Mining Crypto from Scratch in 2025
Cryptocurrency
Free Crypto: Myth or Reality
Can you really get free crypto? We analyze airdrops, faucets, and staking rewards — and expose the risks behind "too good to be true" offers.
Free Crypto: Myth or Reality
Cryptocurrency
Lightning Network: Why Bitcoin Needs a Second Layer and How It Works
How Lightning Network solves Bitcoin's scalability issues? Learn about off-chain channels, low fees, and how it enables fast microtransactions.
Lightning Network: Why Bitcoin Needs a Second Layer and How It Works