MEV boost

MEV stands for Maximal Extractable Value and, basically, it’s a way of maximizing your validator profits by proposing a block that was built by a 3rd party. This block includes more rewards than the standard block created locally by your validator.

there has been a lot of controversy about MEV as some relays comply with OFAC sanctions which means that some transactions are in the end censored by this relays.

We are including in our default config file /etc/ethereum/mev-boost.conf NO censorship relays only.

As a point of reference, we use the EthStaker relay list

Using MEV

First step is to start the mev-boost service. If you have an old Ethereum image you may need to install the package:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install mev-boost

You can run the service on your node or on another ARM board. If you have a Raspberry Pi or an Odroid it may be more convenient to run it outside your node.

To start the service, type:

sudo systemctl start mev-boost

You need to configure your Consensus Layer clients to use MEV.

Configuring CL clients

Edit the CL config files and add the data described below.

Note

You need to change the Mev Boost address depending on where you are running the service (on the same node or on an external node). Choose localhost if you are running the service along with your validator or the external node IP (such as 192.168.0.20) if you are using an external device.

We will be using localhost in the examples.

Lighthouse

Edit the Beacon config file:

sudo vim /etc/ethereum/lighthouse-beacon.conf

Add the flag --builder http://localhost:18550 at the end of the file.

Edit the Validator config file:

sudo vim /etc/ethereum/lighthouse-validator.conf

Add the flag ``–builder-proposals``at the end of the file.

Teku

Edit the Teku config file:

sudo vim /etc/ethereum/teku.conf

Add the flags --validators-builder-registration-default-enabled=true --builder-endpoint=http://localhost:18550 at the end of the file.

Prysm

Edit the Beacon config file:

sudo vim /etc/ethereum/prysm-beacon.conf

Add the flag --http-mev-relay=http://localhost:18550 at the end of the file.

Edit the Validator config file:

sudo vim /etc/ethereum/prysm-validator.conf

Add the flag --enable-builder at the end of the file.

Nimbus

Edit the Beacon config file:

sudo vim /etc/ethereum/nimbus-beacon.conf

Add the flags --payload-builder=true --payload-builder-url=http://localhost:18550 at the end of the file.

Edit the Validator config file:

sudo vim /etc/ethereum/nimbus-validator.conf

Add the flag --payload-builder=true at the end of the file.