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

## TL;DR

This paper surveys front-running attacks on blockchain, analyzing their forms, evidence from Ethereum DApps and ICOs, and categorizing potential solutions to address this transparency-related issue.

## Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of front-running in blockchain, including empirical analysis of Ethereum DApps and ICOs, and categorizes existing solutions.

## Key findings

- Evidence of front-running in Ethereum DApps and ICOs
- Identification of abnormal miner behaviors indicative of front-running
- Mapping of solutions into useful categories

## Abstract

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.