Payments
Litecoin (LTC)
LTCData: Coinbase · updated 9/6/2026, 1:02:40 PM
What Litecoin does
- Processes payments with faster block confirmation times than Bitcoin
- Capped at a maximum supply of 84 million coins
- Used mainly for peer-to-peer payments and transfers
- Shares Bitcoin's proof-of-work security model with some technical differences
Risks to know
- Has a fairly narrow use case, often described as a faster/cheaper complement to Bitcoin rather than a distinct product
- Developer activity and ecosystem growth have been more limited than major smart-contract platforms
- Price tends to move closely in line with Bitcoin, offering limited diversification within a crypto portfolio
- Faces competition from many other payment-focused cryptocurrencies
Where to trade LTC
Top-rated exchanges by CompareCEX Score. Check the exchange's market list for LTC availability before depositing.
Frequently asked questions
Who created Litecoin?
Litecoin was created in 2011 by Charlie Lee, a former Google and Coinbase engineer, as a fork of Bitcoin's source code with faster block times.
Is there a maximum supply of Litecoin?
Yes. Litecoin's protocol caps total supply at 84 million coins, four times Bitcoin's 21 million cap.
How is Litecoin different from Bitcoin?
Litecoin uses the same general proof-of-work model as Bitcoin but targets faster block confirmation times and a larger total coin supply, and has historically been described as intended for everyday payments.
Related coins
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