Aptos launches encrypted mempool to curb trading attacks

• Aptos has launched an encrypted mempool on mainnet to help reduce frontrunning and sandwich attacks.
• The feature hides transaction details until block ordering is finalised.
• The upgrade aims to protect users from traders exploiting pending transactions to gain an advantage.

Aptos has activated encrypted mempool technology on mainnet, allowing transactions to be ordered before their contents become visible.

The feature targets frontrunning and sandwich attacks, where bots exploit visible pending transactions to trade ahead of users.

Encrypted transaction payloads conceal the function being called and its arguments, while sender addresses and gas fees remain visible.

The system uses threshold encryption, requiring validators representing at least two-thirds of honest stake to decrypt transactions after consensus finalises blocks.

The upgrade adds roughly 20 milliseconds of latency per block in 50-node benchmarks, according to Aptos.

The feature is optional per transaction, with Petra wallet integration and planned support from Aptos-based decentralised exchange Decibel.

Following the update, APT was trading down 10.7% at US$0.8052.