Litecoin (LTC)
Fact sheet · reviewed October 26, 2026
Litecoin is one of the oldest cryptocurrencies, launched in 2011 by Charlie Lee as a faster, lighter version of Bitcoin. It has a maximum of 84 million coins and new blocks every 2.5 minutes.
Key facts
| Launched | October 2011 |
|---|---|
| Created by | Charlie Lee |
| How it's secured | Proof of work (Scrypt) |
| Maximum supply | 84,000,000 LTC |
| New blocks | About every 2.5 minutes |
| Block reward | 6.25 LTC (since August 2023); next halving around mid-2027 |
| Smallest unit | 1 litoshi = 0.00000001 LTC |
| Ways to invest besides coins | A US spot Litecoin ETF since October 2025 |
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What it's used for
Payments and transfers where speed and low fees matter, widely accepted by payment processors. More in what is Litecoin?
Risks to know
- Much smaller than Bitcoin.
- Price is volatile.
- Never send LTC to a Bitcoin address.
Buying and storing it
If you decide to buy, use a regulated exchange you reach directly, check fees with the true cost calculator, and store long-term holdings in a wallet you control. Read how to buy crypto safely. This page isn't a recommendation to buy.
Questions
Is Litecoin a good alternative to Bitcoin?
It's faster and cheaper to send, but far smaller and less widely held. We don't give investment advice.
Where to next
Sources
Facts checked against the sources listed, as of October 26, 2026. Educational only; not financial advice.