The Good Will Alliance: Strengthening BNB Chain Against Malicious MEV Practices
In a proactive move to secure the BNB ecosystem, BNB Chain has introduced the Good Will Alliance, an initiative aimed at addressing malicious maximal extractable value (MEV) practices, particularly those involving sandwich attacks. These attacks have disproportionately harmed retail traders on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC), inflicting losses that reportedly amount to hundreds of millions of dollars, as noted by BNBChain DAO. The alliance aspires to unite various stakeholders, including infrastructure builders, validators, and the broader community, to establish ethical standards and best practices that will enhance security across the platform.
The unfortunate prevalence of sandwich attacks makes it one of the most detrimental forms of malicious MEV practices. In these attacks, a malicious actor manipulates the timing of transactions to profit at the expense of unsuspecting users. In recognition of this challenge, the Good Will Alliance’s initial focus is dedicated to implementing advanced filtering mechanisms to mitigate such attacks effectively. By prioritizing these actions, the alliance plans to curtail the negative impact of malicious practices and foster a more secure trading environment for all users on BSC.
Infrastructure providers BlockRazor and 48 Club have taken the lead by deploying specialized sandwich attack filters in their block-building processes. These measures represent an early benchmark for other alliance participants, establishing a model for best practices that can be replicated within the ecosystem. Additionally, the alliance has created a GitHub repository to catalog builders that comply with these ethical standards, encouraging BSC validators to accept block bids only from this vetted group. This comprehensive approach ensures that effective solutions are not only developed but also widely adopted.
To further strengthen its efforts, the Good Will Alliance aims to define clearer criteria for identifying sandwich attacks and develop tools capable of detecting malicious MEV behavior more effectively. This would involve deeper collaboration among community members to enhance on-chain security measures. The alliance’s plans will evolve through governance processes, known as BNB Evolution Proposals (BEPs), which will be underpinned by regular updates to the codebase. By emphasizing community governance and participation, the initiative seeks to foster a fairer network environment over the long term.
The initiative has garnered substantial community support, evidenced by a DAO proposal that received 79% approval on February 14. This strong endorsement underscores the necessity for community-driven measures aimed at penalizing malicious actors, excluding irresponsible validators, and adopting safer RPC nodes and MEV-protected wallets. Such measures are essential to ensure that the ecosystem remains robust and equitable for users, further emphasizing the need for collective responsibility in maintaining the integrity of the BNB Chain.
Looking ahead, the Good Will Alliance is set to expand its scope, actively seeking additional members eager to contribute to community-focused security projects throughout 2025. As the initiative continues to evolve, it underscores BNB Chain’s commitment to fostering a secure, prosperous ecosystem for all users. Through collaborative efforts and the establishment of ethical practices, the Good Will Alliance aims to create a BSC landscape where users can trade confidently, free from the threats posed by malicious MEV practices. By aligning interests and promoting transparency, the alliance seeks to redefine the very standards of operation within the blockchain space, ensuring that BNB Chain remains an innovative and secure environment for all participants.