Integrating the Flashbots RPC endpoint into your MetaMask wallet enables protection against frontrunning, priority transaction ordering, lower gas fees, and compatible use of all MetaMask supported dApps. The process only takes a few minutes, and offers significant advantages over sending normal transactions.
About Flashbots
Flashbots is a research and development organization formed to mitigate the negative impacts of Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) on Ethereum and other blockchains.
Key Products and Services:
- Flashbots Protect RPC: An RPC endpoint that provides users frontrunning protection, configurable privacy, priority transaction ordering, and access to MEV refunds.
- Flashbots Auction: A series of architectures enabling permissionless and transparent blockchain block creation, starting with Flashbots MEV-Geth for miners and now MEV-Boost services for validators.
- Flashbots Research: Explores topics like cross-domain MEV, account abstraction, search optimization, and other open questions relevant to MEV. Research is funded by the MEV Fellowship grants.
Notable Achievements:
- Pioneered transparent blockchain block creation via the Flashbots Auction
- Open sourced key infrastructure like Flashbots Protect RPC, Flashbots Builder, and MEV-Boost Relay
- Maintains over 50k monthly active users of Flashbots Protect
- Has saved users over $18 million in priority gas fees
- Prevents over $150 million worth of frontrunning losses
The core focus of Flashbots is researching blockchain design and building infrastructure to enable sustainable and permissionless MEV ecosystems. Key pillars of their approach include illuminating MEV, democratizing access to MEV revenue, and distributing that revenue.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Add Flashbots to MetaMask
Follow these simple steps to integrate Flashbots into your MetaMask wallet:
1. Access RPC Settings in MetaMask
Click the network dropdown menu at the top right and scroll down to “Custom RPC”.
2. Configure the Flashbots Protect RPC
Enter the following details:
- Network Name: Flashbots Protect
- New RPC URL: https://rpc.flashbots.net
- Chain ID: 1
- Currency Symbol: ETH
3. Save the Custom RPC Network
Double check all details entered are correct, then click “Save” to add Flashbots as a custom network.
4. Select Flashbots Network
You can now select Flashbots Protect from the network dropdown menu in MetaMask.
5. Start Using Flashbots to Send Transactions
Submit transactions as normal and they will be routed through Flashbots instead of the public mempool!
The Benefits of Using Flashbots
Integrating Flashbots into your MetaMask wallet provides several advantages:
Frontrunning Protection
Flashbots sends transactions directly to miners, bypassing the public mempool pools where frontrunning bots lie in wait. This guarantees fair and private transaction ordering.
Priority Inclusion
As an additional benefit, Flashbots transactions gain priority inclusion in blocks if there is space, resulting in faster confirmation times.
No Failed Transaction Fees
If your Flashbots transaction fails or gets stuck for any reason, you incur absolutely no failed transaction fees. This provides peace of mind and saves on excess gas costs.
Compatible Applications
Flashbots is compatible with almost all MetaMask supported dApps and protocols including:
- Decentralized exchanges like Uniswap and SushiSwap
- ERC20 transfers
- Minting NFTs on OpenSea
- Yield farming protocols like Yearn Finance
- Sending payments on Layer 2 networks
Essentially all transaction types work as normal after integrating Flashbots into the MetaMask wallet.
Conclusion
Adding Flashbots to your MetaMask wallet provides frontrunning protection and fair transaction ordering by privatizing the transaction pipeline. The setup only takes a few minutes and rewards users by minimizing gas fees and eliminating failed transaction costs.
Given its ease of integration with MetaMask and the long list of benefits, Flashbots is an essential addition to stay protected in DeFi.
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