Solana ecosystem embroiled in $4.4B-$5.5B lawsuit controversy: How MEV tools undermine market fairness?

【Crypto World】The Solana ecosystem is facing a major test regarding market orderliness. The U.S. Federal Court is currently hearing a class-action lawsuit against Pump.fun, Solana Labs, the Solana Foundation, and Jito Labs, focusing on an age-old issue—how “fair” is the market?

Here’s what happened: a group of experienced traders used their MEV tools and infrastructure advantages to precisely control transaction orderings during critical token issuance moments, securing the best execution prices first. The result? Retail investors suffered significant losses, estimated between $4.4 billion and $5.5 billion.

This is not a vague accusation. The court has accepted concrete evidence provided by internal whistleblowers, and the case has officially entered legal review—what was once speculation in the community has now escalated into a solid lawsuit. What does this shift mean? It indicates that the claim “as long as transactions are public, the market is fair” no longer holds water.

The abuse of MEV on Solana has long been an open pain point. Participants with control over node resources and transaction flow indeed possess asymmetric information and execution advantages. This class-action lawsuit could reshape the entire ecosystem’s understanding of “transaction fairness” and serve as a warning to other public blockchains.