What “front-running” is and what makes it dangerous
1 min read
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Feb 6
Front-running is a kind of insider trading with financial assets that long predates cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency exchanges. If you are a broker, the idea is self-evident. Knowing that your client is going to make a large purchase on the exchange, which will naturally increase the asset value, you simply buy some for yourself first, then sell it at the higher price. Profit!
Front-running is even simpler on decentralized exchanges, where information about transactions (i.e. purchase and sale offers before they occur) is absolutely transparent. There is no need to possess any insider information; it is there, on the blockchain.
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