From Ethereum to ARIA: The Journey of Alex Obadia

• Alex Obadia left Flashbots to stay aligned with his principles on decentralization and transparency.
• He now explores science-driven security while still supporting crypto innovation quietly.

Behind the big name of Flashbots, which has been known for the MEV issue on Ethereum, there is one figure whose story is no less interesting than its technology. His name is Alex Obadia. He is not only known as one of the founders of Flashbots, but also as a stubborn thinker who often walks on paths that are not always comfortable—and that is precisely why many people pay attention to him.

Alex Obadia: Building Fairness in a World That Didn’t Ask for It

Alex’s journey did not start from a laboratory or startup incubator. He comes from Monaco, studied at the University of Warwick, and in a not too long time later was involved in the crypto world which at that time was still often considered a wild world without rules.

When most people were fighting for the spotlight through new coins or “magic” tokens, Alex instead chose to focus on technical problems that could be said to make your head spin—MEV aka Maximal Extractable Value.

Through Flashbots, Alex helped design tools such as MEV-Inspect and MEV-Geth which can be simply explained as “trap detectors and unravelers” on the Ethereum blockchain.

Imagine you are queuing to buy concert tickets, then someone cuts you off because they know the special lane. More or less, that’s what the MEV perpetrator did. And Alex Obadia, instead of joining the queue at the front, was busy making a system so that everyone could see that the queue was transparent and fair. A little idealistic? Maybe. But that’s his style.

However, like many other stories, the road was not smooth forever. In mid-2023, Alex decided to resign from Flashbots. The reason? He felt that the system he built had the potential to become too centralized—something that was the opposite of his initial vision. He once said, “When we grow into big players, we also have to start being aware of ourselves.”

This decision was not just a drama of leaving a startup. It was more like a moment when someone realizes that upholding principles is more important than holding a position. Instead of retiring or taking a break, Alex actually changed direction to a field that was much “weirder” than the crypto world: extreme science research projects.

He is currently a Programme Director at ARIA (Advanced Research and Invention Agency) in the UK, leading the “Secured by Nature” initiative—a new approach to data security that is rooted in the laws of physics, not just digital encryption.

Furthermore, he hasn’t completely abandoned crypto. He still actively supports experimental projects like Quantum Punks, the Zero Knowledge London community, and mentors and invests in a variety of frontier-tech startups. So while he’s no longer at the forefront of Flashbots, his influence hasn’t completely faded. In fact, in hindsight, his stepping back has actually made his movement even wider.

A Strategist in a World That Keeps Changing Shape

Interestingly, Alex isn’t the type to settle for a comfortable space. Instead, he seems to prefer being at the intersection of science, technology, and… a little intellectual madness. On the one hand, he can discuss Ethereum’s PoS and cross-domain MEV with technical precision.

On the other hand, he can also dive into quantum theory-based security projects. The average person might be overwhelmed by the thought of such a shift, but for Alex, it’s like going from chess to Sudoku—both require strategy, just different forms.

Now, many are starting to follow in his footsteps, especially those who are starting to get tired of the get-rich-quick coin narrative. Alex’s mindset shows that crypto doesn’t have to be all about ups and downs. There’s plenty of room to build, improve, and even question the foundations of the system itself.

Will Alex return to blockchain projects in the future? No one knows for sure. But judging by his track record, one thing is clear: as long as there’s something to question, he’ll be there in the debate. Maybe not as a spokesperson, but as a voice in the technical chatrooms that often have the most influence on the future of the industry.