# The MEV Letter #122 **URL:** https://collective.flashbots.net/t/the-mev-letter-122/5504 **Category:** The Flashbots Ship **Tags:** the-mev-letter **Created:** [January 21, 2026, 9:20pm UTC](https://collective.flashbots.net/t/the-mev-letter-122/5504 "2026-01-21T21:20:29Z") **Posts on this page:** 1 **Page:** 1
### Author: ![Fred](https://collective.flashbots.net/user_avatar/collective.flashbots.net/fred/32/1288_2.png) [@Fred](https://collective.flashbots.net/u/Fred) #### Post date: [January 21, 2026, 9:20pm UTC](https://collective.flashbots.net/t/the-mev-letter-122/5504/1 "2026-01-21T21:20:29Z")
_ **The MEV Letter** _ is a weekly collection of papers, articles and resources related to MEV. The intention of this letter is to provide a comprehensive summary of the latest research, discussions, and developments in the space, with links for further reading. -[_Explore all previous editions via The MEV Letter explorer_](https://collective.flashbots.net/t/explorer/100). # Papers & Articles - [Geographical Centralization Resilience in Ethereum’s Block-Building Paradigms](https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.21475) by @syang, @boz1, [Fei Wu](https://x.com/William33203632), and [Fan Zhang](https://www.fanzhang.me/) has been updated with an agent-based simulation model, showing that Ethereum’s block-building architecture is not geographically neutral, and outlines potential mitigation directions. - [Semantic Non-Fungibility and Violations of the Law of One Price in Prediction Markets](https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.01706) by [Jonas Gebele](https://x.com/j9ebele) and [Florian Matthes](https://www.linkedin.com/in/florianmatthes/) analyzes over 100 000 prediction market events across major venues, showing that semantically equivalent markets exhibit persistent arbitrage opportunities averaging 2-4%. - [Thread](https://x.com/j9ebele/status/2008938480617849193) by [Jonas Gebele](https://x.com/j9ebele) - [Combining preconfirmations with based rollups for synchronous composability](https://ethresear.ch/t/combining-preconfirmations-with-based-rollups-for-synchronous-composability/23863) by [Vitalik Buterin](https://vitalik.eth.limo/) presents a hybrid rollup architecture that combines the low latency of sequenced rollups with the synchronous composability of based rollups. - [Thread](https://x.com/tcoratger/status/2013017065259422131?s=20) by [tcoratger](https://x.com/tcoratger) - [Native DVT for Ethereum staking](https://ethresear.ch/t/native-dvt-for-ethereum-staking/23894) by[Vitalik Buterin](https://vitalik.eth.limo/) outlines a design to enshrine Distributed Validator Technology (DVT) into the Ethereum protocol to reduce reliance on staking providers and improve decentralization. - [Worst-Case Block Size and Calldata Repricing for Glamsterdam](https://ethresear.ch/t/worst-case-block-size-and-calldata-repricing-for-glamsterdam/23895) by [Toni Wahrstätter](https://toniwahrstaetter.com/) explains how Ethereum’s block size constraints persist despite [EIP-7623](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-7623), and proposed fixes via [EIP-7976](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-7976) and [EIP-7981](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-7981) in Glamsterdam. - [Two-resource metered-gas equations for EIP-8037](https://ethresear.ch/t/two-resource-metered-gas-equations-for-eip-8037/23849) by [Anders Elowsson](https://x.com/weboftrees) analyze how the [EIP-1559](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-1559) base fee should be updated when two separate resources, regular gas and state creation gas, are used. - [Blob Analysis after Fusaka and BPO Updates](https://ethresear.ch/t/blob-analysis-after-fusaka-and-bpo-updates/23853) by[Leo](https://leobago.me/) presents an empirical analysis of Ethereum’s blob throughput and network stability following Fusaka and subsequent BPO updates, finding both underutilized capacity and elevated rates of missed slots. - [Fusaka: More Blobs, Less Votes, Broken Hearts?](https://ethpandaops.io/posts/fusaka-more-blobs-less-votes/) by [Sam Calder-Mason](https://x.com/samcmau) investigates how increased blob count affects attestation head votes, and finds that drops in votes are primarily driven by proposer timing games, not blob count itself. - [Thread](https://x.com/ethPandaOps/status/2011705668756259169) by [ethPandaOps](https://ethpandaops.io/) - [everyone is quietly switching to intents](https://x.com/interopdude/status/2013583010399166836) by[dude](https://x.com/interopdude) documents the shift toward solver-driven infrastructure in DeFi, with trading platforms, interoperability layers, and lending protocols increasingly adopting intents for improved execution and scalability. - [Repricings for block proving (Part 2: The tools and process)](https://zkevm.ethereum.foundation/blog/repricings-for-block-proving-part-2) by [Ignacio Hagopian](https://twitter.com/ignaciohagopian) details the benchmarking tools, methodologies, and dashboards used to evaluate zkVM execution and proving performance for Ethereum gas repricing analysis. - [Thread](https://x.com/ignaciohagopian/status/2013256911169126740) by[Ignacio Hagopian](https://twitter.com/ignaciohagopian) - [zkEVM Security Overview](https://zkevm.ethereum.foundation/blog/zkevm-security-overview) by [Cody Gunton](https://x.com/codytouchgrass) examines the security implications of Ethereum transitioning to zkEVM-based validation, emphasizing attack surfaces in circuit construction, witness generation, software dependencies, and more. - [Thread](https://x.com/codytouchgrass/status/2011441974881260028) by[Cody Gunton](https://x.com/codytouchgrass) - [Trust minimized transaction simulation using state proofs](https://ethresear.ch/t/trust-minimized-transaction-simulation-using-state-proofs/23857) by[marc](https://x.com/heymarcopolox) presents a decentralized system for transaction simulation that aims to address the risks of blind signing in today’s wallets. # Posts & Threads - @dataalways published a[thread](https://x.com/dataalways/status/2013276743214202970) highlighting the divergence in how [Geth](https://geth.ethereum.org/) and [Nethermind](https://www.nethermind.io/) handle low-fee spam transactions, with ~40% of Nethermind-included transactions in the past week paying almost nothing to the proposer. - [Vitalik Buterin](https://vitalik.eth.limo/) published a [post](https://x.com/VitalikButerin/status/2012819160426807639) emphasizing the need for protocol simplicity to preserve the trustlessness, self-sovereignty, and long-term sustainability of Ethereum. - [Reply](https://x.com/donnoh_eth/status/2012970141374349341?s=52) by [donnoh.eth](https://x.com/donnoh_eth) - [Reply](https://x.com/VitalikButerin/status/2013149454551986437) by [Vitalik Buterin](https://vitalik.eth.limo/) - [Vitalik Buterin](https://vitalik.eth.limo/) published a [post](https://x.com/vitalikbuterin/status/2011325527567544393) outlining how Ethereum’s original vision for a decentralized tech stack is being realized through advancements in PoS, ZK-EVMs, [Waku](https://docs.waku.org/), and [IPFS](https://ipfs.tech/), enabling applications like [Fileverse](https://fileverse.io/) to operate independently of centralized control. - [Vitalik Buterin](https://vitalik.eth.limo/) published a[post](https://x.com/VitalikButerin/status/2012231445809435134) outlining a vision for 2026 to restore self-sovereignty and trustlessness through advances in node accessibility, privacy-preserving technologies, decentralized frontends, and secure wallet design. # Talks & Discussions - [CBER Forum](https://www.cber-forum.org/): [Unichain](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR3SqVs3ahk) by [Joshua Gutow](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-gutow-327959165/) provides an overview of [OP Stack](https://www.optimism.io/op-stack), [Rollup Boost](https://github.com/flashbots/rollup-boost), [Flashblocks](https://github.com/flashbots/rollup-boost/blob/main/specs/flashblocks.md), and [Unichain](https://www.unichain.org/). - [Smart Economy Podcast](https://www.smarteconomypodcast.com/):[Inside Ethereum’s Next Chapter: Tomasz Stańczak on the EF, L2s, & Institutional Adoption](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_M_gqgHfVg) invites[Tomasz K. Stańczak](https://twitter.com/tkstanczak) for a conversation on L2 interoperability, institutional adoption, the role of the[Ethereum Foundation](https://ethereum.foundation/), and more. - [Thread](https://x.com/SmartEconomyPod/status/2011831274483167324) by[Smart Economy Podcast](https://www.smarteconomypodcast.com/) - [Indexed Podcast](https://x.com/indexed_pod): [Did Ethereum Really Solve the Trilemma?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXJyL1oCJVk) discuss [Vitalik Buterin](https://vitalik.eth.limo/) recent [post](https://x.com/vitalikbuterin/status/2007559523528233041) on how Ethereum is evolving to a fundamentally new network with [PeerDAS](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-7594) and[zkEVM](https://ethproofs.org/) to solve the blockchain trilemma. - [Thread](https://x.com/indexed_pod/status/2012155202426569081) by [Indexed Podcast](https://x.com/indexed_pod) - [All Core Devs - Execution (ACDE) #228](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMC83TdqgLY) hosted by [Ansgar Dietrichs](https://twitter.com/adietrichs) discussed the scope of Glamsterdam, and deferred a few EL EIPs to later updates in favor of client readiness, stability, and structured upgrade governance. - [Agenda](https://github.com/ethereum/pm/issues/1867) by[nixo.eth](https://x.com/nixorokish) - [Notes](https://etherworld.co/highlights-from-the-all-core-developers-execution-acde-call-228/) by [Yash Kamal Chaturvedi](https://x.com/YashKamalChatu1) - [Notes](https://christinedkim.substack.com/p/acde-228) by [Christine D. Kim](https://x.com/christine_dkim) - [Thread](https://x.com/poojaranjan19/status/2011833637369757829) by [Pooja Ranjan](https://x.com/poojaranjan19) - [All Core Devs - Testing (ACDT) #66](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y61OpUvVpFM) hosted by [parithosh](https://x.com/parithosh_j) covered BPO forks, devnets for [BALs](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-7928) and [ePBS](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-7732), gas limit increases, and more. - [Agenda](https://github.com/ethereum/pm/issues/1878) by [parithosh](https://x.com/parithosh_j) - [Thread](https://x.com/poojaranjan19/status/2013342579102765230) by [Pooja Ranjan](https://x.com/poojaranjan19) - [FCR breakout room #2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5_75Y_09No) hosted by[Will Corcoran](https://x.com/corcoranwill) provided an overview of the Fast Confirmation Rule (FCR) initiative and its current [specification](https://github.com/ethereum/consensus-specs/pull/4747). - [Agenda](https://github.com/ethereum/pm/issues/1870) by[Will Corcoran](https://x.com/corcoranwill) - [Fast Confirmation Rule Primer (recorded at Devconnect ARG)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8Kh7iD6niY) by [Ethereum Foundation ](https://ethereum.foundation/) # Other - [Checkpoint #8: Jan 2026](https://blog.ethereum.org/2026/01/20/checkpoint-8) by [nixo.eth](https://x.com/nixorokish) gives a high-level summary from recent All Core Developer calls, focusing on the Fusaka upgrade, BPO forks, Glamsterdam, and Hegotá. - [Thread](https://x.com/nixorokish/status/2013625022133477768) by [nixo.eth](https://x.com/nixorokish) - [Developer Sentiment Toward Individual EIPs Proposed for Glamsterdam](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ifXjsiFFzQW8s1gl4Gz3kVDKE2pvTMkPslHuE3U7Nqk/edit?gid=159513487#gid=159513487) by [Christine D. Kim](https://x.com/christine_dkim) presents an overview of the EIPs relevant for Glamsterdam according to discussions from [All Core Devs - Testing (ACDT) #66](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y61OpUvVpFM). - [Post](https://x.com/christine_dkim/status/2011855245844832590) by [Christine D. Kim](https://x.com/christine_dkim) * * * ✉ [**Sign up here**](https://flashbots.net/the-mev-letter) if you’d like to get The MEV Letter straight to your inbox! 🔮 [Explore previous editions via The MEV Letter explorer](https://collective.flashbots.net/t/explorer/100) ⚡ [Join Flashbots](https://www.flashbots.net/jobs)