Best MEV-Boost relay for Ethereum validators
3 models · updated 2026-08-12
The verdict
Ultra Sound Relay leads — All 3 models rank Ultra Sound Relay the top pick.
As of 2026-08-12, Claude, Gemini and Grok collectively rank Ultra Sound Relay #1 for mev-boost relay for ethereum validators on ModelsAgree — unanimous among the 3 models that have answered. The models' case: The de facto neutral standard for a typical validator — open-source (built on Flashbots' mev-boost-relay), non-censoring, community-run, and consistently one of the top. The models' main caveat: It's a lean volunteer/community operation, so validators wanting a formal SLA or a commercial support contract won't find one here. The strongest alternative is Titan Relay — Rust-rewritten, performance-focused relay that is non-censoring and supports optimistic relaying for lower latency and higher bid inclusion. Source: https://modelsagree.com/best/best-mev-boost-relay-for-ethereum-validators (modelsagree.com, CC BY 4.0).
Combined ranking
- 1Claude #1Gemini #1Grok #1
The de facto neutral standard for a typical validator — open-source (built on Flashbots' mev-boost-relay), non-censoring, community-run, and consistently one of the top relays by delivered payload value and market share, with strong public transparency on bids and a clean missed-slot record. Best all-round balance of censorship-resistance, competitive MEV, and reliability.
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Claude The de facto neutral standard for a typical validator — open-source (built on Flashbots' mev-boost-relay), non-censoring, community-run, and consistently one of the top relays by delivered payload value and market share, with strong public transparency on bids and a clean missed-slot record. Best all-round balance of censorship-resistance, competitive MEV, and reliability.
Gemini Market-leading payload volume share (~34%), exceptional low-latency infrastructure, strict non-censoring posture processing all valid transactions, and robust transparent metrics; near-tied with Titan Relay on block value delivery; assumes staker values network neutrality alongside high MEV returns.
Grok Sustained highest relay market share (~27-34% of payloads) with strong average rewards, fully non-censoring/unfiltered, high unique builder count, 100% of value to validator, self-caps share to limit dominance, and multi-year reliability as the post-2022 neutrality leader
Where it falls shortper Claude It's a lean volunteer/community operation, so validators wanting a formal SLA or a commercial support contract won't find one here.
per Gemini Lacks transaction filtering, making it unviable for compliance-mandated institutional validators requiring strict OFAC filtering.
per Grok Private implementation reduces software transparency compared to open forks
- 2Claude #2Gemini #2Grok #2
Rust-rewritten, performance-focused relay that is non-censoring and supports optimistic relaying for lower latency and higher bid inclusion; it rapidly earned major market share on merit and competes at the top for delivered value. Excellent for validators optimizing rewards without sacrificing neutrality.
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Claude Rust-rewritten, performance-focused relay that is non-censoring and supports optimistic relaying for lower latency and higher bid inclusion; it rapidly earned major market share on merit and competes at the top for delivered value. Excellent for validators optimizing rewards without sacrificing neutrality.
Gemini Processes ~24% of Ethereum block proposals, delivering high block bid values through direct integration with Titan's dominant builder pipeline; near-tied with Ultra Sound Relay on yield; assumes validator seeks top-tier block rewards and censorship resistance.
Grok Consistent #2 share (~22%), non-censoring, vertical integration with the dominant Titan Builder (~50% of blocks) delivers competitive high-value bids, modern geo-routed infrastructure, and 100% to validator
Where it falls shortper Claude Younger codebase and optimistic-relay design carry slightly more operational/tail risk than the most battle-tested relays; not for the maximally conservative operator.
per Gemini Creates vertical integration risk due to Titan operating both a top builder and relay, increasing centralization concerns for protocol health.
per Grok Heavy reliance on one vertically integrated builder creates concentration risk if that builder underperforms
- 3Claude #3Gemini #5Grok #4
Independent, minimalist, strictly non-censoring relay run for the health of the ecosystem rather than profit; solid uptime and a good diversity play — running it alongside larger relays reduces reliance on any single operator.
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Claude Independent, minimalist, strictly non-censoring relay run for the health of the ecosystem rather than profit; solid uptime and a good diversity play — running it alongside larger relays reduces reliance on any single operator.
Grok Solid mid-tier share (~7%) as a pure public-good non-censoring option, 100% to validator, permissionless with payload validation, community-operated longevity, and timing-game optimizations that improve bid quality for typical proposers
Gemini Independent, public-good, censorship-free relay providing essential infrastructure decentralization and transparent operation without commercial conflicts of interest; assumes validator values community-driven network resilience.
Where it falls shortper Claude Lower bid liquidity than the market leaders, so as a sole relay it can leave some MEV on the table; best used as part of a multi-relay set.
per Gemini Holds lower builder order flow and volume share (~10%), offering lower average block payouts than top-tier commercial competitors.
per Grok Smaller scale limits peak high-value builder diversity and absolute payload volume versus the top three
- 4Claude —Gemini #3Grok #3
Powered by bloXroute's high-speed global BDN infrastructure to consistently secure high MEV block bids and minimize missed slots; assumes validator prioritizes maximum financial return above protocol-level transaction neutrality.
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Gemini Powered by bloXroute's high-speed global BDN infrastructure to consistently secure high MEV block bids and minimize missed slots; assumes validator prioritizes maximum financial return above protocol-level transaction neutrality.
Grok High sustained share (~17-21%), commercial-grade global infrastructure and uptime, broad external builder/searcher access, and proven volume delivery for max rewards
Where it falls shortper Gemini Filters OFAC-sanctioned transactions, making it unusable for stakers adhering to strict non-censorship principles.
per Grok OFAC address filtering makes it unsuitable for operators prioritizing full censorship resistance
- 5Claude #4Gemini —Grok #5
Non-censoring relay associated with the Gnosis/Agnostic ecosystem, offering credible neutrality and competitive value with a stable operating history; a strong second or third relay for censorship-resistant diversification.
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Claude Non-censoring relay associated with the Gnosis/Agnostic ecosystem, offering credible neutrality and competitive value with a stable operating history; a strong second or third relay for censorship-resistant diversification.
Grok Fully non-censoring public-good relay with 100% to validator, permissionless access, and consistent (if lower) reliability backed by Gnosis, providing useful diversity in multi-relay setups
Where it falls shortper Claude Smaller builder connectivity than the top two means it rarely wins the highest bids on its own; a diversifier, not a standalone.
per Grok Lowest share and average rewards among the top set, limiting standalone value
- 6Claude #5Gemini #4Grok —
Gold standard for open-source MEV architecture with unmatched historical reliability, deep integration across validator clients, and foundational research backing; assumes validator prioritizes maximum stability and operational security.
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Gemini Gold standard for open-source MEV architecture with unmatched historical reliability, deep integration across validator clients, and foundational research backing; assumes validator prioritizes maximum stability and operational security.
Claude The original and most battle-tested relay, with the deepest builder ecosystem, reference-implementation reliability, and rock-solid infrastructure — a safe default for operators who prioritize proven uptime above all.
Where it falls shortper Claude Its history of OFAC/compliance filtering and outsized centralizing influence make it a poor choice for validators prioritizing censorship resistance and network neutrality.
per Gemini Enforces OFAC transaction censorship by default and yields lower peak block rewards compared to latency-optimized builder-relay pipelines.
Rank history
Just missed the top 5
Claude bloXroute — Max Profit can top raw MEV, but its multiple flavors — including the filtering "Regulated" variant — plus commercial centralization undercut it as a neutral default
Gemini Agnostic Relay — Maintains strong non-censoring public-good values, but missed the top 5 due to lower builder connectivity and market payload volume compared to Aestus
Grok Flashbots — share collapsed to ~2-3% after strategic shift to BuilderNet, plus OFAC filtering · bloXroute Regulated — similar filtering and infrastructure to Max Profit but lower share and more compliance-oriented, offering less incremental value for most operators
By model
Claude
- 1.Ultra Sound Relay
- 2.Titan Relay
- 3.Aestus Relay
- 4.Agnostic Relay
- 5.Flashbots Relay
Gemini
- 1.Ultra Sound Relay
- 2.Titan Relay
- 3.bloXroute Max Profit Relay
- 4.Flashbots Relay
- 5.Aestus Relay
Grok
- 1.Ultra Sound Relay
- 2.Titan Relay
- 3.bloXroute Max Profit Relay
- 4.Aestus Relay
- 5.Agnostic Relay
Common questions
What is the best mev-boost relay for ethereum validators according to AI models?
Ultra Sound Relay leads. All 3 models rank Ultra Sound Relay the top pick. The current top 3: Ultra Sound Relay, Titan Relay, Aestus Relay. Ranked by asking Claude, Gemini, Grok the same buying question and merging their top-5 picks, updated 2026-08-12. Source: modelsagree.com.
Which mev-boost relay for ethereum validators did each AI model pick first?
Claude: Ultra Sound Relay. Gemini: Ultra Sound Relay. Grok: Ultra Sound Relay.
What changed in the latest mev-boost relay for ethereum validators ranking?
In the latest poll (2026-08-12): bloXroute Max Profit Relay climbed 1 spot, Agnostic Relay climbed 1 spot; Flashbots Relay dropped 2 spots. The models are re-polled on demand, so this ranking moves.
How is this mev-boost relay for ethereum validators ranking made?
Claude, Gemini, Grok are each asked the same buying question in a fresh session with no system steering. Their top-5 answers are merged (rank 1 = 5 pts … rank 5 = 1 pt) into the consensus ranking, re-polled on demand and tracked over time.
More on how polling works: full methodology →
Cite this ranking
ModelsAgree, “Best MEV-Boost relay for Ethereum validators” — merged ranking from ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini & Grok, polled 2026-08-12. https://modelsagree.com/best/best-mev-boost-relay-for-ethereum-validators (CC BY 4.0)
Tracked by ModelsAgree · rank 1 = 5 pts … rank 5 = 1 pt · re-polled on demand