GH0ST is a Uniswap V4 hook implementing a hidden reserve layer ("Ghost Layer") on top of a constant-product AMM.

The Ghost Layer activates when swap price impact exceeds a shadow threshold τ, providing supplemental ETH to fill the slippage gap. After the swap, the Ghost Layer withdraws back to dormant state, leaving no persistent footprint in public pool state.

Three-contract architecture: GH0STToken (fixed-supply ERC20), GhostMath (pure math library), and GH0STHook (V4 BaseHook with Ghost Layer activation/deactivation in atomic callbacks).

Shadow threshold (τ): 0.5% — Ghost Layer activates when price impact exceeds this.

Utilization cap: 40% — Maximum Ghost reserve that can be used per activation.

Fill premium: 0.3% — Premium charged on Ghost Layer contributions.

Swap fee: 100% — V4 pool fee tier.

Min swap size: 0.01 ETH — Dust protection floor.

DEPOSIT: ETH enters the Ghost Layer. Not reflected in pool state. A dormant reserve.

SWAP: When a swap's price impact exceeds τ, Ghost Layer calculates optimal AMM fill and contributes the gap. Price impact is capped at τ.

WITHDRAW: Depositors claim their ETH plus accrued yield after cooldown period.

MEV bots rely on predictable price movement. They front-run large swaps, expecting significant slippage, then back-run to capture the spread.

With Ghost Layer activated, price impact is capped at τ. The bot's expected price advantage becomes zero. After paying swap fees twice, the bot's profit is negative.

The mechanism is the protection. No additional MEV-specific logic required.