ETH/ZAR: Convert Ethereum (ETH) to South African Rand (ZAR)

Ethereum (ETH) is a decentralized, open-source blockchain system that features its own cryptocurrency, Ether. It serves as a platform for numerous other cryptocurrencies and for the execution of decentralized smart contracts. Ethereum's primary goal is to become a global platform for decentralized applications, allowing users worldwide to write and run software that is resistant to censorship, downtime, and fraud. Ethereum's blockchain is designed to host other cryptocurrencies, called "tokens," through its ERC-20 compatibility standard. This has led to the launch of more than 280,000 ERC-20-compliant tokens to date.

Ethereum operates through a network of computers that work together as a supercomputer. The network, in its entirety, validates and records transactions that occur on its platform. Ethereum's core innovation, the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), is a Turing complete software that runs on the Ethereum network. It enables anyone to run any program, regardless of the programming language, making the creation of blockchain applications much more accessible. At its core, Ethereum operates on a proof-of-work system, but there are plans to transition to a proof-of-stake algorithm to boost the platform's scalability and add a number of new features.

Ethereum's potential use cases extend beyond the simple transfer of value. Its smart contracts can automatically execute transactions when certain conditions are met. These smart contracts are being used to create decentralized applications, or "dapps," that enable users to interact directly with the blockchain. Some of the most common use cases for Ethereum include decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). Ethereum also hosts other cryptocurrencies and facilitates the execution of smart contracts, making it a key player in the blockchain space.

Ethereum was first described in a 2013 whitepaper by Vitalik Buterin, a programmer involved in Bitcoin Magazine. Buterin, along with other co-founders, secured funding for the project in an online public crowd sale in the summer of 2014, and the blockchain was officially launched on July 30, 2015. Since its launch, Ethereum has undergone several planned protocol upgrades, which are important changes affecting the underlying functionality and/or incentive structures of the platform. The Ethereum Foundation, a team of developers and researchers, continues to coordinate upgrades and protocol changes.