Aptos Launches Encrypted Mempool on Mainnet

Aptos has officially launched its Encrypted Mempool feature on mainnet, allowing users to conceal pending transaction details until validators finalize their ordering process. According to CryptoNews, the feature is designed to protect traders from frontrunning, sandwich attacks, and other forms of maximal extractable value (MEV).

Transaction Encryption Mechanism

Under the protocol-native implementation, users can individually encrypt transaction instructions on their devices before submitting them to the blockchain. While asset details, amounts, and smart contract functions remain hidden during validator ordering, sender wallet addresses and network fees stay publicly visible. Once block consensus is reached, validators collectively combine their decryption shares to execute the transactions.

Aptos noted that no single validator can independently decrypt a pending transaction, relying instead on a stake-weighted validator majority. Independent security reviews for the system were conducted by ZKSecurity prior to the rollout. The network reported an approximate latency increase of 20 milliseconds per block during tests involving 50 validator nodes.

Fees and Ecosystem Integration

Encrypted transactions carry higher costs, requiring a minimum gas price of 200 octas per gas unit—twice the network base minimum—alongside an extra 375 gas units allocated specifically for payload decryption. Developers can integrate the feature using version 7.0.0 and later of the TypeScript software development kit, with existing Move smart contracts requiring no modifications.

Petra has emerged as the first wallet to support the encryption workflow directly, while the Aptos-based perpetual futures exchange Decibel plans to adopt the feature for private pending orders. The deployment follows research from firms like Bitquery documenting millions of automated transaction manipulation incidents across other blockchain ecosystems.

Key facts

• Aptos launched Encrypted Mempool on mainnet to counter MEV and sandwich attacks.
• Encrypted transactions require twice the base minimum gas price and an extra 375 gas units for decryption.
• Testing across 50 validator nodes showed an approximate latency increase of 20 milliseconds per block.
• Petra is the first wallet to support direct transaction encryption.