Tug-of-war between data speed and cryptocurrency rewards in Ethereum.

Is Latency Manipulation the Future of Crypto? Unveiling the Hidden Costs of Proposer-Builder Separation

Samir D’Costa in Tech & Innovation December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A deep dive into the MEV-Boost auction system reveals how artificial latency impacts Ethereum's network and validator dynamics."

In the ever-evolving landscape of cryptocurrency, the pursuit of maximizing profits often leads to innovative, yet sometimes controversial, strategies. One such strategy involves the manipulation of latency—a concept that's now under scrutiny within the Ethereum network's Proposer-Builder Separation (PBS) framework. This framework, designed to optimize block proposals and maximize value extraction, is facing new challenges as participants explore the potential of artificial latency.

The core of this issue lies within the MEV-Boost auction system, where strategic delays in data transmission can significantly alter outcomes. While these delays can increase profitability for some node operators, they also raise critical questions about network integrity and the potential for centralization. It's a complex game of cat and mouse, where the benefits for a few might come at the expense of the many.

This article delves into a comprehensive analysis of artificial latency's implications, drawing insights from a pilot study called "Adagio." We'll explore how these strategic delays affect Maximum Extractable Value (MEV) yields, validator dynamics, and the overall health of the Ethereum ecosystem. The goal is to uncover the nuanced effects of latency and to advocate for balanced strategies that prioritize both profit and the network's decentralized ethos.

The Mechanics of MEV-Boost and Latency Manipulation

Tug-of-war between data speed and cryptocurrency rewards in Ethereum.

To understand the impact of artificial latency, it's essential to grasp the basics of the Proposer-Builder Separation (PBS) and the MEV-Boost auction system. PBS aims to decentralize Ethereum by separating the roles of block proposers and builders. Builders compete to create the most valuable blocks, while proposers select the best option to add to the blockchain. MEV-Boost facilitates this process through a commit and reveal scheme, ensuring validators can access optimized blocks without the risk of theft.

In this system, relays play a crucial role as trusted third parties. They receive block proposals and bids from builders, log the receiving time (eligibility time), and make them available to proposers. The proposer then requests the best bid's block header, checks its validity, signs it, and asks the relay for the full block content. This intricate process is where latency manipulation comes into play. By strategically delaying the getHeader request, some operators aim to maximize their MEV capture.

Increased Profitability: Strategic delays can lead to higher MEV yields for node operators who implement them.
Systemic Challenges: However, these delays can also create network inefficiencies and increase the risk of centralization.
Zero-Sum Game: Latency optimization can become a zero-sum game, where the gains of some come at the expense of others.

The competitive dynamics of the MEV-Boost auction system create an environment where information is key. Builders with better information, such as access to private order flow or sophisticated arbitrage models, have a distinct advantage. This information edge translates to bargaining power, allowing them to bid more effectively and capture more MEV. However, this advantage can also exacerbate centralization, as larger operators with more resources are better positioned to acquire and utilize this information.

Balancing Profit and Decentralization

The research underscores the need for balanced strategies that optimize MEV capture while preserving the Ethereum network's decentralization ethos. As more node operators employ latency optimization, it's crucial to address the potential negative externalities, such as increased gas costs and a higher ETH burn rate. By carefully weighing the competitive need against these drawbacks, the Ethereum community can work towards a more equitable and sustainable future for the network.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2312.09654,

Title: The Cost Of Artificial Latency In The Pbs Context

Subject: cs.gt q-fin.st

Authors: Umberto Natale, Michael Moser

Published: 15-12-2023

Everything You Need To Know

What is Proposer-Builder Separation (PBS) and why is it relevant to Ethereum?

Proposer-Builder Separation (PBS) is a framework designed to decentralize Ethereum by separating the roles of block proposers and builders. Builders compete to create the most valuable blocks, while proposers select the best option to add to the blockchain. This is relevant because it aims to optimize block proposals and maximize value extraction within the Ethereum network. By splitting these roles, PBS intends to improve the network's efficiency and distribute block creation power, which is crucial for the network's decentralization and scalability. PBS utilizes the MEV-Boost auction system to facilitate this process, where relays play a crucial role as trusted third parties.

How does the MEV-Boost auction system work within the PBS framework?

The MEV-Boost auction system is a critical component of the Proposer-Builder Separation (PBS) framework. Builders create blocks and submit bids through relays. Relays, acting as trusted third parties, receive these bids, record their eligibility time, and make them available to proposers. The proposer then requests the best bid's block header, checks its validity, signs it, and asks the relay for the full block content. This system allows validators to access optimized blocks without the risk of theft, utilizing a commit and reveal scheme. The auction dynamics incentivize builders to create the most valuable blocks, contributing to the overall efficiency of the network.

What is artificial latency and how does it affect the MEV-Boost system?

Artificial latency refers to the strategic delaying of data transmission within the MEV-Boost auction system. Node operators and builders can manipulate the timing of their actions to gain an advantage. For example, by strategically delaying the getHeader request, operators aim to maximize their Maximum Extractable Value (MEV) capture. This can lead to increased profitability for those employing latency manipulation, but it also introduces network inefficiencies and can increase the risk of centralization. The competitive nature of latency optimization can result in a zero-sum game, where the gains of some come at the expense of others.

What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of latency manipulation in the Ethereum network?

The potential benefits of latency manipulation primarily revolve around increased profitability for node operators. Strategic delays can lead to higher MEV yields. However, the drawbacks are significant. Artificial latency can create network inefficiencies, increasing gas costs and the ETH burn rate. It can also exacerbate the risk of centralization, as larger operators with more resources are better positioned to acquire and utilize this information, leading to an uneven playing field. The negative externalities highlight the need for balanced strategies that consider both profit and the Ethereum network's decentralization ethos.

How can the Ethereum community balance profit maximization with the preservation of network decentralization in the context of MEV-Boost and latency manipulation?

Balancing profit maximization with network decentralization requires a careful consideration of the competitive needs and potential negative externalities associated with latency manipulation within the MEV-Boost auction system. It's crucial to address the negative effects of strategies like artificial latency, such as increased gas costs and a higher ETH burn rate. The Ethereum community can work toward a more equitable and sustainable future by carefully weighing the benefits of profit against these drawbacks. This might involve developing mechanisms to mitigate the impact of latency manipulation, promoting transparency, and ensuring that the benefits of MEV are more broadly distributed across the network, thereby preserving the network's decentralized ethos.