Why the Peraire-Bueno Case Matters for DeFi Developers

[encrypted]

At the center of the dispute are Anton and James Peraire-Bueno, who prosecutors allege used automated MEV bots to extract value from Ethereum transactions. The DeFi Education Fund argues that criminalizing such behavior risks blurring the line between malicious exploits and legitimate software activity.

Industry advocates warn that aggressive prosecutions could chill innovation, discouraging developers from building in decentralized finance altogether. The concern is not only about this specific case, but about precedent: how courts interpret existing laws when applied to permissionless, automated systems could shape the future of MEV strategies and DeFi participation.

[96f402f86e]

criminalizing mev feels like a slippery slope tbh

[The_Walking_Dead]

If MEV is illegal, where does that stop — arbitrage next?

[Capybara_Capybara]

Bots optimizing public rules shouldn’t equal fraud.

[Revenant]

Slippery slope from “bad outcomes” to “bad code.”