# Article Summary: Understanding Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) in Blockchain
This comprehensive guide explores Maximal Extractable Value (MEV), the profit strategy block producers and searchers use by reordering, including, or excluding transactions within blockchain blocks. Designed for crypto investors, traders, and DeFi participants, the article addresses critical concerns about transaction fairness, gas fees, and network integrity. It examines how MEV operates across validators and searchers, illustrates real-world examples including arbitrage, front-running, and liquidations on platforms like Gate, and balances ecosystem benefits against risks like sandwich attacks and network congestion. The article concludes with practical solutions including Flashbots, encrypted mempools, and Proposer-Builder Separation to mitigate MEV's negative impacts while advancing blockchain security and user protection.