Algorand is a proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain that supports smart contracts. Its protocol uses Pure PoS, through which users are selected on a random and secret basis to propose blocks and vote on proposals. In that way, the blockchain ensures that each user’s influence on the choice of a new block is proportional to the user’s stake in the system. Founded by MIT professor and Turing Award recipient Silvio Micali in June 2019, Algorand is designed as a scalable and secure blockchain free of potential governance issues such as forks. The network’s Algorand 2.0 update, released in late 2019, adds decentralized finance (DeFi) features and smart contracts.