In contrast to Bitcoin's first-come, first-served transaction order, Ethereum and Solana rely on a pool of validators to confirm transactions and include them in the next block. This system allows for flexibility, as users can expedite their transactions by paying higher fees.

However, prioritizing transactions based on gas fees at the protocol level has unintentionally led to the emergence of complex Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) bots on Solana and Ethereum. These bots exploit the system and have become a significant factor in the ongoing debate about gas fees.

The debate surrounding validators, gas fees, and the impact of MEV bots on Solana and Ethereum is intensifying. Mert Mumtaz, co-founder of Solana RPC provider Helius, highlighted the role of a single MEV bot named Jaredfromsubway, which has become the top source of gas fees on Ethereum, responsible for a staggering 142 ETH per day, surpassing fees paid by major players like Coinbase.

With this MEV bot being the largest source of gas fees on Ethereum, Mumtaz argues that by not subsidizing validators, the Ethereum Foundation indirectly encourages MEV bot operators to continue exploiting retail traders.

While Ethereum is known for its scalability issues and high transaction costs, the proliferation of MEV bots, exemplified by Jaredfromsubway, may exacerbate these concerns.

In contrast, some analysts believe Solana is handling the impact of MEV bots on gas fees more effectively than Ethereum. Solana currently subsidizes most of its validators, penalizing operators involved in MEV activities, which discourages such behavior. However, some argue that this approach only offers temporary solutions and that Solana may have contributed to the invention and weaponization of MEV. There are also claims that Solana holders prioritize chains based on their MEV capture potential.

Recently, some subsidized validators on Solana were caught enabling MEV to "sandwich" users. While the Solana Foundation swiftly removed their stake, it remains uncertain whether MEV attacks will cease.