How Solana’s Ecosystem Tackled Sandwich Attacks: Key Updates & Lessons
The Solana blockchain, a high-speed platform known for its low fees, has been a critical player in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space. However, in recent times, it has also faced challenges such as sandwich attacks—an exploitative practice that cost users between $370-$500 million over 16 months. Fortunately, coordinated efforts by various stakeholders in Solana’s ecosystem have made substantial progress in combating these issues in 2025.
What is a Sandwich Attack?
Sandwich attacks occur when a perpetrator, often a validator or automated bot, identifies a large transaction queued by a regular user. The attacker strategically places a buy order just before the user’s trade, pushing the price higher. Then, immediately after the user’s transaction is executed at this inflated price, the attacker sells the asset to profit. This method essentially sandwiches the user’s transaction, resulting in monetary loss and a worse deal for the victim.
Why Solana Became a Target
On Solana, these exploits gained traction because of the network’s ultra-fast speeds and low transaction costs. Malicious validators, responsible for sequencing transactions, manipulated blocks for financial gain. Some used custom-made software or private channels to see transactions before they were publicly available, amplifying the issue.
Proactive Measures to Protect the Ecosystem
In 2025, key players in Solana’s ecosystem took decisive steps to combat sandwich attacks:
- Marinade Finance: By blacklisting over 50 malicious validators identified through advanced on-chain analysis and tools from Ghostlogs, they protected $2 billion of delegated stakes.
- Jito Foundation: They shut down their public mempool in March, eliminating a significant attack vector. Jito also implemented blacklists and governance structures to neutralize harmful validators.
- Solana Foundation: Malicious actors were removed from delegation programs, cutting their financial incentives to engage in these exploits.
Improved Security Features
Marinade Finance has introduced several security enhancements, including:
- Advanced detection and penalization systems for suspicious validator behavior.
- The launch of “Marinade Select,” a tool enabling users to delegate their stakes to verified and trustworthy validators confidently.
Jito’s infrastructure improvements also reduced network spam, adding to Solana’s protective mechanisms against front-running and excessive price slippage.
What This Means for DeFi Users
The coordinated response across Solana’s ecosystem highlights the importance of maintaining security in blockchains to foster user trust and protect assets. Through the combined efforts of Marinade Finance, Jito Foundation, and Solana Foundation, the ecosystem reduced sandwich attack profitability by 60-70%. As a result, users now experience fewer instances of price manipulation and front-running across decentralized exchanges (DEXs).
A Recommended Service for Your Security
Interested in securely participating in staking solutions? The Ledger Nano X (available here) is a great hardware wallet that helps you safeguard your assets. Pair it with trusted staking platforms like Marinade Finance for improved peace of mind.
Final Thoughts
As DeFi evolves, so do its challenges—but so do the solutions. The measures taken by Solana’s ecosystem in 2025 serve as a strong example of how community collaboration can mitigate risks and foster a safer blockchain environment. For crypto enthusiasts, staying informed and choosing reliable platforms is vital for long-term success in the digital asset space.
