28/07/2020: Ethereum 2.0 Testnet Launch
The Beacon Chain, the first phase of Ethereum 2.0, goes live on a public testnet, marking a significant step towards the transition to a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism.
23/03/2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Impact
The rand experienced significant volatility and depreciation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting the country's economy and trade balance.
20/07/2017: Ethereum Hard Forks: Byzantium
The Ethereum network undergoes a hard fork upgrade named Byzantium, implementing various improvements to enhance scalability, privacy, and security.
17/06/2016: The DAO Hack
The Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO), built on the Ethereum platform, suffers a major security breach, resulting in the theft of approximately 3.6 million ETH tokens.
30/07/2015: Ethereum Mainnet Launched
The Ethereum mainnet is released, enabling developers around the world to build and deploy decentralized applications on the Ethereum blockchain.
30/07/2013: Ethereum Whitepaper Published
Vitalik Buterin publishes the Ethereum whitepaper, outlining a new blockchain platform designed to support decentralized applications and smart contracts.
03/01/2009: Bitcoin Genesis Block Created
The first block of the Bitcoin blockchain, known as the Genesis Block, is mined by Satoshi Nakamoto, marking the birth of the Bitcoin network.
15/12/2008: Global Financial Crisis Impact
The rand plunged against major currencies due to the global financial crisis and concerns about South Africa's economic stability.
31/10/2008: Bitcoin Whitepaper Published
Satoshi Nakamoto releases a whitepaper titled 'Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System,' introducing the concept of a decentralized digital currency.
09/11/2001: Rand Weakens to Record Low
The rand weakened to an all-time low against the US dollar, due to global economic uncertainty and domestic political concerns.
01/01/1995: Establishment of Reserve Bank Independence
The South African Reserve Bank gained independence, allowing it to have more control over monetary policy.
27/04/1994: First Democratic Elections
The first democratic elections were held in South Africa, marking the end of apartheid and bringing political stability, positively affecting the rand's value.
01/08/1982: Currency Decimalization
The rand was decimalized, with 1 rand being equal to 100 cents.
14/09/1961: Introduction of the Rand
The South African rand was introduced as the official currency, replacing the South African pound.