US Prosecutors Push for Early 2026 Retrial of MEV Bot Brothers

Prosecutors in New York are moving to quickly retry brothers Anton and James Peraire-Bueno, accused of orchestrating a $25 million exploit on the Ethereum blockchain using maximal extractable value (MEV) trading bots. In a new filing in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, federal lawyers asked the judge to schedule a new trial for late February or early March 2026.

The request comes just days after the judge declared a mistrial when jurors said they could not reach a unanimous decision. The brothers were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and receiving stolen property tied to a 2023 scheme that allegedly siphoned digital assets through MEV strategies.

The case has been closely watched across the crypto sector, where traders fear a conviction could set a precedent for how aggressive on-chain strategies are treated under US criminal law. If found guilty in a second trial, the Peraire-Bueno brothers could face decades in prison.

Court records show the first jury deliberated for more than three days, repeatedly asking the judge for clarification on witness testimony and the legal meaning of “good faith.” In a letter filed with the court, jurors described emotional strain, sleepless nights, and the financial burden of being kept away from work and family during the month-long trial.

Despite the mistrial, the government’s filing signals it is not backing away from the prosecution. As of Wednesday, the judge had not yet finalized a new trial date, leaving both the defendants and the crypto industry waiting to see how one of Ethereum’s most closely watched legal battles will unfold.