Jito has banned 15 additional validators from receiving JitoSOL stake due to involvement in sandwich attacks on Solana. This action follows a report revealing up to 6% of proposed blocks contained such attacks, targeting retail traders and extracting significant value through transaction reordering.
-
Sandwich attacks involve front-running and back-running trades to profit from retail transactions.
-
Recent data shows 93% of these attacks are now “wide sandwiches” spanning multiple blocks, evading detection.
-
Over 529,000 SOL has been extracted in the past year, with 222,272 victims primarily in meme coin trading.
Jito bans 15 validators for sandwich attacks on Solana amid rising MEV concerns. Discover how these exploits affect traders and what measures are in place to protect the network. Stay informed on blockchain security.
What Are Sandwich Attacks and Why Did Jito Ban Validators?
Sandwich attacks on Solana involve validators reordering transactions in proposed blocks to front-run and back-run retail trades, profiting at the expense of users. Jito, a leading block-building and liquid staking provider, banned 15 validators after a report from on-chain researchers highlighted ongoing issues, including up to 6% of blocks containing such attacks. This move aims to maintain network integrity and protect stakers using JitoSOL.
How Do Wide Sandwich Attacks Impact Solana Traders?
Wide sandwich attacks, which span multiple slots rather than a single block, now dominate with 93% of incidents according to researchers from 0xGhostLogs. These sophisticated MEV strategies extracted 529,000 SOL over the past year, peaking at 87,000 SOL in January 2025. Validators collude via private mempools to target high-value trades, causing losses from under $1 to $10,000 per incident, particularly affecting meme coin traders on platforms like Axiom, Bloom, and Photon. Short detection windows and limited governance exacerbate the issue, undermining retail confidence in Solana’s decentralized exchange activity.
In response to the recent 0xGhostLogs sandwiching report, the JitoSOL Blacklist Committee has banned 15 additional validators from receiving JitoSOL stake. Where you stake matters.
Previously, Jito has taken similar actions against validators engaging in dishonest block building and front-running. The latest bans stem from evidence of anomalous transactions across 23 validators, some subsidized by the Solana Foundation and using staking pools from Marinade and Jito.
Some validators had a larger share of wide sandwich attacks, with most of the traffic targeting specific apps and small-scale meme token trades. | Source: SandwichedAnalysis revealed that certain validators proposed blocks with up to 12.3% containing wide sandwich attacks. Overall, these exploits have impacted an estimated 222,272 users, with monthly extractions ranging from 30,000 to 60,000 SOL.
1) Ghost explains: Wide Sandwich Attacks (with updated website at the end). We looked at a full year of Solana trades and found that wide (multi-slot) sandwiches extracted 529,000 SOL. Wide sandwiches now account for 93% of all sandwiches.
Block builders have evolved from basic single-slot attacks to these multi-slot variants, making them harder to detect. By reordering transactions across slots, attackers exploit visible high-value deals in private mempools, injecting their trades to cause slippage for originals. This trend coincides with surging DEX volumes on Solana, where retail participation in meme tokens amplifies vulnerabilities.
Private mempools serve as a key vector, sharing pending transaction data among validators. With open access to validator roles, collusion occurs, focusing on apps like Axiom (70% of extractions), Bloom, and Photon. Meme coin traders bear the brunt, facing heightened volatility, while aggregators and wallets escape largely unscathed due to secure order flows. Attackers incur costs like 10 SOL daily in fees and bribes for priority, underscoring the profitability of these schemes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Consequences of Sandwich Attacks for Solana Users?
Sandwich attacks lead to financial losses for retail traders through unfavorable price slippage, with impacts ranging from minor fees to thousands in damages. They erode trust in Solana’s fairness, particularly for meme coin enthusiasts, and highlight the need for better MEV protections to sustain user growth.
How Can Validators on Solana Avoid Bans from Jito?
Validators should adhere to ethical block-building practices, avoiding transaction reordering or front-running via tools like private mempools. Jito’s Blacklist Committee monitors for sandwich activities, so transparent operations and compliance with network guidelines ensure continued access to JitoSOL staking rewards and subsidies.
Key Takeaways
- Escalating MEV Threats: Wide sandwich attacks now comprise 93% of incidents, extracting over 529,000 SOL annually from Solana traders.
- Targeted Platforms: Axiom, Bloom, and Photon users suffer most, with meme coin trades hit hardest due to visible order flows.
- Enforcement Actions: Jito’s bans of 15 validators signal a push for integrity; users should prioritize reputable staking providers for protection.
Conclusion
Jito’s ban of 15 validators for sandwich attacks on Solana underscores the ongoing battle against MEV exploitation and wide sandwich tactics that threaten network trust. By addressing these issues through vigilant monitoring and blacklisting, stakeholders can foster a more secure environment for retail trading. As Solana evolves, continued collaboration among block builders, validators, and researchers like those at 0xGhostLogs will be crucial to mitigating risks and enhancing user confidence in the ecosystem.
