As jury deliberations entered their second day in the high-profile criminal trial concerning a $25 million maximal extractable value (MEV) bot exploit, panel members submitted pointed inquiries to the court seeking further legal guidance. The requests focused heavily on clarifying prior witness testimony and obtaining precise judicial definitions of “good faith” conduct within blockchain transaction contexts.
The case centers on allegations that the defendant orchestrated an automated trading scheme that systematically extracted value from pending blockchain transactions, resulting in alleged losses exceeding $25 million. Legal observers note the jury’s specific questions suggest careful scrutiny of both technical blockchain mechanics and the subjective intent requirements embedded in the relevant statutes.
Courtroom sources indicate the trial has drawn significant attention from the digital asset sector, as its outcome could establish important precedents regarding legal responsibility for automated trading activities on decentralized networks. The prosecution maintains the exploit constituted deliberate theft, while the defense argues the defendant merely operated within the established parameters of blockchain technology.
The presiding judge provided additional instructions to jurors in response to their queries, emphasizing that determinations must be based solely on evidence presented during the three-week trial proceedings. The continued deliberation phase underscores the complexity of applying traditional legal frameworks to emerging decentralized finance technologies.
