The layer-1 blockchain Aptos has officially introduced an Encrypted Mempool feature on its mainnet. This optional tool is designed to protect users from maximal extractable value (MEV) risks, specifically frontrunning and sandwich attacks. The feature targets institutional investors, traders, AI agents, and developers who seek to secure their pending transactions.
When a user activates the feature, their wallet or application encrypts transaction details locally before submission. While the sender address and gas fees remain visible, the specific assets and amounts are hidden. Validators determine the order of these transactions without accessing their contents, decrypting them only after the block order is finalized.
The implementation requires a minimum gas price set at twice the network's base minimum. Additionally, testing with 50 nodes indicates that the process introduces a latency of approximately 20 milliseconds per block. Aptos distinguishes its approach by utilizing existing validators for both ordering and decryption, avoiding the need for external committees.
The necessity for such protections is highlighted by significant losses on other networks. Data indicates that Ethereum traders lost $60 million to sandwich attacks over a 12-month period ending in October 2025. Similarly, on Solana, nearly 6.9 million attacks were recorded over 11 months, impacting approximately 2.2 million wallets.
