Litecoin 

LTC Price

What is the Litecoin (LTC) coin?

Litecoin is a peer-to-peer payments cryptocurrency launched in October 2011 by Charlie Lee as an open-source fork of Bitcoin Core. Litecoin runs on its own proof-of-work blockchain using the Scrypt hashing algorithm and targets fast, low-cost transactions with a ~2.5-minute block time. The asset is a coin, not a token — the native currency of the Litecoin network — and is commonly positioned as "digital silver" to Bitcoin's "digital gold".

How does the Litecoin coin differ from Bitcoin?

Litecoin differs from Bitcoin in three protocol parameters. Litecoin blocks confirm every ~2.5 minutes versus Bitcoin's ~10 minutes. Litecoin secures mining with the Scrypt algorithm rather than Bitcoin's SHA-256. Litecoin caps supply at 84,000,000 LTC — exactly four times Bitcoin's 21,000,000 BTC. Litecoin also activated Segregated Witness in 2017, before Bitcoin, and added the optional MWEB privacy feature in 2022.

What is Litecoin's maximum supply and how does emission work?

Litecoin has a fixed maximum supply of 84,000,000 LTC. Approximately 77.6 million LTC existed as of September 2026, and because Litecoin had no ICO or pre-mine, coins in circulation equal coins mined. New LTC enters supply solely through block rewards: 50 LTC at genesis, halving every 840,000 blocks (~4 years). The current reward is 6.25 LTC per block, roughly 3,600 LTC per day.

Does Litecoin have vesting schedules or token unlocks?

Litecoin has no vesting schedule, no token unlocks, and no insider allocations. The network launched through fair-launch mining on October 13, 2011, with no token sale, pre-mine, or VC allocation. This structure removes unlock-driven sell pressure — no cliff dates exist for early holders to exit into. All supply distribution happens publicly through mining rewards and open-market purchases.

When is the next Litecoin halving in 2027?

The next Litecoin halving is expected around mid-2027 at block 3,360,000, cutting the block reward from 6.25 LTC to 3.125 LTC. Litecoin has halved three times previously: August 25, 2015 (50 to 25 LTC), August 5, 2019 (25 to 12.5 LTC), and August 2, 2023 at block 2,520,000 (12.5 to 6.25 LTC). Each halving cuts new supply issuance in half roughly every four years.

What is Litecoin MWEB?

MWEB is the MimbleWimble Extension Block — a Litecoin soft fork that adds optional privacy and improved fungibility. MWEB activated at block 2,265,984 on May 19–20, 2022. Users can move LTC into the extension block, where transaction amounts stay hidden and addresses are not visible on the public ledger. MWEB adoption is optional; standard transparent Litecoin transactions continue to work unchanged.

Who created Litecoin (LTC) and who funds its development?

Charlie Lee created Litecoin in October 2011 as an open-source fork of Bitcoin Core. Development of the Litecoin Core client is maintained by the Litecoin Foundation, a non-profit funded by donations and merchandise, together with volunteer open-source contributors. Litecoin raised no venture capital and held no token sale — no investor holds an allocation.

Is Litecoin a good investment?

Litecoin's investment profile is structural rather than yield-based. Strengths include a fixed 84,000,000 LTC cap, continuous operation since 2011, no insider unlocks, and deep exchange liquidity. Risks include long-run miner security, which depends on transaction-fee demand once block subsidies approach zero around 2142. Litecoin offers no staking yield or protocol cash flow — the value case rests on payments utility and scarcity.

Where can you buy Litecoin?

Per DropsTab data, Litecoin trades on 100+ venues across 126+ spot pairs, making LTC one of the most widely listed crypto assets. Spot markets include Binance (LTC/USDT), Coinbase (LTC/USD), Kraken (LTC/USD), OKX, and Gate, with fiat coverage in USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, TRY, BRL, and INR. Perpetual futures trade on 25+ venues including Binance Futures and Deribit. DEX listings on PancakeSwap track a wrapped BNB Chain representation of LTC — not the native Litecoin chain asset.