Last night, I was scrolling through on-chain activity again and saw a batch of transactions that looked like “arbitrage.” I clicked in and… yeah, the sandwich flavor was way too strong. To put it plainly, you think you picked up a bargain, but it could just mean you paid a few extra fees for someone else—and, as a bonus, helped them max out your slippage.

Now when I see those suddenly high-volume little pools, my first reaction isn’t to rush in; it’s to check the gas and the route first. Don’t let the third time you get played be when you still won’t admit you were being a rookie. Lately everyone’s been staring at the unlock calendar and yelling about sell pressure, but what makes me more anxious is the feeling that it’s easier to get squeezed before and after unlocks. Anyway, I’ll test with small amounts twice and then stop—I’d rather make a little less and sleep soundly.