$ALGO is a blockchain platform developed in 2019 by Silvio Micali, a Turing Award laureate. It combines scalability, decentralization, and security to enable fast transactions. Utilizing the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, it is eco-friendly and energy-efficient. Algorand supports features like smart contracts and is suited for DeFi, NFTs, and global payments. Its goal is to create an open, borderless economy.