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Neo X’s Zero-Knowledge DKG Audit Clears Path for Anti-MEV Deployment

Lidia Yadlos · Aug 20, 2025 · Neo Neo
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Neo X’s Zero-Knowledge DKG Audit Clears Path for Anti-MEV Deployment

Neo X’s Anti-MEV solution has just cleared a major milestone: its Zero-Knowledge Distributed Key Generation (ZK DKG) protocol has been successfully audited by Hacken, setting the stage for TestNet and MainNet launch.

Anti-MEV Mission

Neo X, the high-performance, EVM-compatible chain built to connect Neo N3 with the broader EVM world, is taking aim at one of DeFi’s most persistent problems: Maximal Extractable Value (MEV). Each year, billions of dollars are siphoned from users when block producers reorder transactions for profit.

Neo X’s Anti-MEV design uses enveloped transactions—a mechanism that hides transaction details until after confirmation. By sealing the data, block producers lose the ability to front-run or reorder for personal gain, creating a fairer environment for traders and builders.

Why ZK DKG Is Critical

At the heart of this system lies the Distributed Key Generation (DKG) protocol. Validators collaboratively generate key pairs, with the public key encrypting transactions and the private keys split across the validator set. A threshold of two-thirds of validators is needed to decrypt, ensuring that no single actor can censor or manipulate transactions.
 
This cryptographic foundation guarantees both security and finality, preventing chain reorganizations while keeping the network resistant to MEV exploits.

Hacken Audit Results

The audit, conducted by leading blockchain security firm Hacken, flagged 15 findings:

  • 11 issues fully resolved

  • 4 acknowledged and accepted

Neo X’s team worked closely with Hacken to implement recommended refinements, ensuring the protocol’s resilience before deployment. With this process complete, the ZK DKG code is ready for production.
 
Hacken, trusted by organizations including the European Commission, ADGM, MetaMask, Ethereum Foundation, and Binance, brings a strong seal of credibility to Neo X’s effort to deliver a secure DeFi environment.

Next Steps

With the audit finalized, Neo X will roll out Anti-MEV to TestNet first, then to MainNet. Alongside this, Neo is launching the ZK Trust Relay, a Multi-Party Computation (MPC) campaign designed to further harden the Anti-MEV system. Developers are invited to participate and will earn GAS token rewards for contributing to the robustness of the protocol.

Sign up here: Neo X ZK Trust Relay