Algorand (ALGO) is a digital currency as well as a blockchain platform. The Algorand platform is intended to process a large number of transactions quickly, much like major payment processors such as Mastercard or Visa.
Algorand is an open-source blockchain, which means that anybody can access and contribute to its code. Algorand utilizes a pure proof-of-stake (PoS) operating protocol that recruits network validators from a pool of users. Silvio Micali, a cryptographer and lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, founded the Algorand platform and cryptocurrency in 2017.
Here is a great resource for learning more about the Algorand blockchain APIs.