Introduction

We can agree that Ethereum is changing the world, one DAPP at a time. The problem most of us have is integrating this world changing potential into our daily lives. Ether is just too slow and technically complicated for most mainstream users.

Enter Status

Status functions as a browser, mobile messenger, wallet, and more that allows users to communicate and interact through other DAPPs within Ethereum. Think of it as a one-stop mobile operating system that runs many other decentralized apps within it.

Another way of looking at it is that Status is basically China's WeChat -- except it will be global and it will run on the Ethereum network.

Thanks to the new protocols Ethereum has introduced, there's a whole new ecosystem of applications being developed that are completely decentralised (also known as DApps), and Status aims to provide a user interface to access them. These decentralized applications remove the need for middlemen and centralised servers, providing a clear path forward towards an internet where users get to own their own data, and an economy built on permissionless, open protocols.

Status has been in development since 2015 and has a functioning alpha with a test network of over 6000 users. They have documentation! They have a full wiki! In a world filled with 3-week-old projects with a rushed whitepaper, Status is a fresh breath of air.

Status is more than a messenger. Send payments and smart contracts to friends from within chats, and enjoy encrypted messaging by default, using a peer-to-peer protocol that doesn’t rely on centralized servers.

The Crowdsale

The crowdsale begins on June 17th, 2017 at 2pm GMT. Unlike recent crowdsales which have ended in minutes, Status will include mechanisms to prevent individuals from buying out the ICO (also known as whales). This is a unique approach that will maximize the number of participants and stakeholders, a pillar in decentralization.

There is a 12 million CHF (roughly $12 million USD) soft cap
After the soft cap, a series of "dynamic ceilings" will activate. If a contribution is greater than 1/30 of the supply within that ceiling, it will be rejected. Once full, another ceiling is activated.
The hard cap is secret, and once reached the crowdsale will end.
You can read about dynamic ceilings here.
You can review their audited smart contract here.