Purchase Algorand (ALGO) with Israeli New Shekel (ILS) easily at Switchere and benefit from fast, secure transactions.
Algorand (ALGO) is a high-performance, permissionless Layer-1 blockchain designed to address the blockchain trilemma by delivering scalability, security, and decentralization without compromise. Founded by Turing Award-winning cryptographer Silvio Micali, its foundational innovation is the Pure Proof-of-Stake (PPoS) consensus mechanism. This protocol democratically selects block proposers and verifiers randomly and secretly from the pool of ALGO stakeholders, ensuring true decentralization and cryptographic security. This advanced architecture provides near-instant transaction finality, effectively eliminating the risk of forks, and supports high throughput with minimal transaction fees, establishing it as a highly efficient digital ledger.
The network's utility is further enhanced by the Algorand Virtual Machine (AVM), which facilitates the development of sophisticated smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Through the Algorand Standard Assets (ASA) framework, developers can seamlessly create and deploy both fungible and non-fungible tokens. The native utility token, ALGO, is crucial to the ecosystem’s tokenomics. It is used for paying transaction fees, securing the blockchain via staking rewards, and empowering holders to participate in on-chain governance. As a carbon-negative blockchain, Algorand positions itself as a key piece of sustainable Web3 infrastructure for DeFi, asset tokenization, and CBDC initiatives.
The most common method is through a cryptocurrency exchange that serves as a fiat on-ramp for ILS. Users typically register, complete KYC/AML verification, and then deposit Israeli Shekel via a local bank transfer or credit/debit card. Once the ILS is in their exchange account, they can place an order on the ALGO/ILS trading pair to purchase the digital asset.
Yes, there are typically three types of fees. First, a deposit fee for funding your exchange account with ILS. Second, a trading fee (maker or taker fee) on the ALGO/ILS order book. Third, once you own ALGO, the Algorand blockchain itself has very low transaction fees (a fraction of an ALGO) for moving the asset. This network efficiency is a key feature of the Algorand protocol.
Algorand Standard Assets (ASA) are a feature on the Algorand blockchain allowing anyone to create tokens that benefit from the same security and speed as the native ALGO coin. After you convert your ILS to ALGO and hold it in a compatible wallet, you can then use your ALGO to interact with the Algorand ecosystem, which includes acquiring or trading various ASAs, such as stablecoins, utility tokens, or NFTs built on Algorand.
Algorand's PPoS consensus mechanism provides rapid transaction finality, typically under 4 seconds. For an ILS investor, this means that once your ALGO purchase is confirmed on the blockchain, it is final and cannot be reversed. This high level of security and speed ensures that your digital assets are quickly and securely transferred to your control after the trade, minimizing exposure to exchange risk.
For secure trading and storage, it is highly recommended to move your ALGO from the cryptocurrency exchange to a personal digital wallet where you control the private keys. Options include the official Pera Algo Wallet for mobile, other third-party software wallets, or a hardware wallet for the highest level of security. This practice protects your digital assets from exchange-specific risks like hacks or freezes.
The AVM does not directly impact the initial fiat-to-crypto purchase on an exchange. However, it is the powerful engine that runs smart contracts and dApps on the Algorand network. Your ability to later use your ALGO for complex operations, like participating in DeFi protocols or executing Atomic Transfers, is enabled by the performance and security of the AVM. So, while it doesn't affect the ILS purchase, it defines the utility of the ALGO you acquire.