In a PoW cryptocurrency blockchain context, maybe? Though I think the much more precise term MEV captures that nicely.
The etymology of the term "front-running" goes at least as far back as the name "Reuters" and the use of pigeons to be the microwave towers of the day: https://www.reuters.com/article/rpb-historyofspeed/the-long-..., and probably a great deal further. I imagine the actual origin of the term is lost in deep antiquity due to the fact that someone with tradable information in hand would profit more by "running" than by walking.
I don't personally deal for profit in mempool analysis, but I'm the "low-latency guy" to enough people that do that I've had to learn the mechanics of a few of the big chains, which is frankly time that I'll never get back, and while the Nash equilibria are far less stable/obvious in this world than in a good old fashioned price-time precedence order-book, it looks pretty fucking shady to me.
It is used as a trading term in hedge funds. It is shady and heavily regulated by SEC unless you are crazy enough to trade crypto or fx where SEC can't regulate anything.
The etymology of the term "front-running" goes at least as far back as the name "Reuters" and the use of pigeons to be the microwave towers of the day: https://www.reuters.com/article/rpb-historyofspeed/the-long-..., and probably a great deal further. I imagine the actual origin of the term is lost in deep antiquity due to the fact that someone with tradable information in hand would profit more by "running" than by walking.
I don't personally deal for profit in mempool analysis, but I'm the "low-latency guy" to enough people that do that I've had to learn the mechanics of a few of the big chains, which is frankly time that I'll never get back, and while the Nash equilibria are far less stable/obvious in this world than in a good old fashioned price-time precedence order-book, it looks pretty fucking shady to me.