# SoK: Transparent Dishonesty: front-running attacks on Blockchain

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1902.05164 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1902.05164/

## Key facts

- Cited by 9 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 13 Feb 2019.

## Built on by (most cited first, 9 of 9)

- [Detecting Financial Bots on the Ethereum Blockchain](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.19530/) (2024)
- [SoK: Blockchain-Based Decentralized AI (DeAI)](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2411.17461/) (2024)
- [Prompt to Pwn: Automated Exploit Generation for Smart Contracts](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.01371/) (2025)
- [AiRacleX: Automated Detection of Price Oracle Manipulations via LLM-Driven Knowledge Mining and Prompt Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.06348/) (2025)
- [The Design Principle of Blockchain: An Initiative for the SoK of SoKs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2301.00479/) (2023)
- [BlockScan: Detecting Anomalies in Blockchain Transactions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.04039/) (2024)
- [SolRPDS: A Dataset for Analyzing Rug Pulls in Solana Decentralized Finance](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.07132/) (2025)
- [FRAD: Front-Running Attacks Detection on Ethereum using Ternary Classification Model](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2311.14514/) (2023)
- [DMind-3: A Sovereign Edge--Local--Cloud AI System with Controlled Deliberation and Correction-Based Tuning for Safe, Low-Latency Transaction Execution](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.11651/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

We consider front-running to be a course of action where an entity benefits from prior access to privileged market information about upcoming transactions and trades. Front-running has been an issue in financial instrument markets since the 1970s. With the advent of the blockchain technology, front-running has resurfaced in new forms we explore here, instigated by blockchains decentralized and transparent nature. In this paper, we draw from a scattered body of knowledge and instances of front-running across the top 25 most active decentral applications (DApps) deployed on Ethereum blockchain. Additionally, we carry out a detailed analysis of Status.im initial coin offering (ICO) and show evidence of abnormal miners behavior indicative of front-running token purchases. Finally, we map the proposed solutions to front-running into useful categories.