Litecoin
Faster, lighter alternative to Bitcoin with quicker confirmations and lower fees.
Price
$43.64
24h
-2.4%
About Litecoin
What is Litecoin?
Litecoin was created in 2011 by Charlie Lee as a lighter, faster alternative to Bitcoin. Same proof-of-work model, different hashing algorithm (Scrypt), and faster block times: 2.5 minutes versus Bitcoin's 10. Transactions confirm about four times faster.
LTC has earned its reputation as 'digital silver' to Bitcoin's 'digital gold.' Widely accepted by merchants, well-supported across exchanges and wallets, and one of the longest track records in crypto. For a reliable, time-tested cryptocurrency with low fees, Litecoin is a solid choice.
People buy LTC for everyday spending, for sending value quickly with low fees, or as a portfolio diversifier alongside Bitcoin.
At a glance
- Launched
- 2011
- Creator
- Charlie Lee
- Block time
- 2.5 minutes
- Max supply
- 84,000,000
- Consensus
- Proof of Work (Scrypt)
Price
Litecoin price
-1.8%past 30 days
Market Cap
$7.4B
Supply
75.6M / 84M
All-time high
$412.96
24h Volume
$684M
Where to buy
Find a Bitstop with Litecoin near you
Litecoin is available at over 2,500 Bitstop kiosks nationwide. Use the location finder to discover the nearest ATM that supports Litecoin.
Your wallet
Grab a wallet
Any wallet that generates a receive QR code works at a Bitstop ATM. New to crypto? Exodus takes a few minutes to set up.
Recommended for LTC
Exodus
Mobile + desktop, beginner-friendly
Litecoin Core
Official desktop wallet
Use any wallet that supports LTC. The ATM scans your receive address. That's all it needs. Hardware wallets like Ledger work too: open the companion app and scan the receive QR.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use Litecoin instead of Bitcoin?
Faster confirmations (2.5 minutes vs 10) and lower fees. For everyday transactions or moving value between exchanges, LTC is often more practical. For long-term store of value, most people still prefer BTC.
Is Litecoin still being developed?
Yes. The Litecoin Foundation funds ongoing development, and the network upgraded with MimbleWimble Extension Blocks in 2022 for optional privacy. Quiet but steady progress.
Can I mine Litecoin?
Litecoin uses the Scrypt algorithm, which was originally designed to be more ASIC-resistant than Bitcoin's SHA-256. In practice, Scrypt ASICs now dominate LTC mining, so home GPU mining isn't profitable.
Does LTC have a max supply?
Yes, capped at 84 million: exactly four times Bitcoin's 21M cap. Like Bitcoin, the issuance rate halves every four years through 'halving' events.


