01 · The origin
A meme born in plain sight.
Vitalik noticed something beautifully obvious: one animal is literally named “wild beast.” The internet did what it does best. A herd formed.
I still love how there's a type of wild beast that's literally just called a “wildebeest”.vitalik.ethOriginal post · September 19, 2026View the post ↗
02 · The crossing
Every migration has predators.
A transaction entering the public mempool can be seen before it lands. Searchers may reorder around it—much like predators reading a herd at the river. Try both routes below.
Interactive MEV field guide
Mempool bank
Confirmed bank
HERD = pending transactions
RIVER = public mempool
CROCODILES = searchers
RIVER = public mempool
CROCODILES = searchers
Confirmed0Sandwiched0Block#26,074,628
The herd is moving through the public mempool.Crocodiles can observe the crossing and position around a transaction.
Your highlighted transactionSearcher activity
This is a simplified teaching model. Not all MEV is malicious, and not every public transaction is attacked.
03 · The only contract
Verify. Then run.
Names and tickers can be copied. Contract addresses cannot. Always verify the full address before interacting.
Official Ethereum contract
0x57737ded3870e43fed7d80d31e0ced3d5fb0cccc
View on Etherscan ↗