Rebar Launches Rebar Shield to Combat Bitcoin MEV Strategies

Bitcoin (BTC) maximal extractable value startup Rebar is launching its first product, Rebar Shield, which enables users to bypass Bitcoin’s public mempool and mitigate the risks associated with emerging Bitcoin MEV strategies.

Understanding MEV

Maximal extractable value (MEV) is the practice where miners and validators manipulate the order and inclusion of transactions to maximize their profits, often at the expense of regular users.

Features of Rebar Shield

Rebar Shield allows users to submit transactions to a private mempool, utilizing a Remote Procedure Call (RPC) that connects external applications to Bitcoin nodes. This method prevents transaction details from being exposed until they are mined into a block, reducing the likelihood of exploitation by MEV attackers.

Miners can selectively include transactions from the Bitcoin “memory pool,” and some exploitative miners prioritize profits by front-running transactions or liquidating debt positions. Rebar Shield provides a layer of protection against these tactics.

Alex Luce, CEO of Rebar, highlights the complexities of Bitcoin’s on-chain activities, noting the rise of MEV strategies similar to those utilized on Ethereum. He also mentions that new transaction types and assets, such as Ordinals, Runes, and BRC-20 tokens, are increasing this complexity.

Future Developments

While Rebar does not have a confirmed launch date for Rebar Shield, it aims to provide more security as it garners additional hashpower. The team is actively engaging with several major Bitcoin mining pools and wallet providers to expand its client base.