Bitcoin vs. Litecoin
A neutral side-by-side look at Bitcoin (BTC) and Litecoin (LTC): live market data, how each one works and what it's for.
Litecoin was created in 2011 as a lighter version of Bitcoin. It works in a very similar way but makes blocks four times as often, uses a different mining algorithm (Scrypt), and has four times as many coins (84 million). Bitcoin is far larger and more widely held.
Live comparison
| Measure | Bitcoin BTC | Litecoin LTC |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | — |
| Market cap | — | — |
| Market cap rank | — | — |
| 24h trading volume | — | — |
| 24h change | — | — |
| 7-day change | — | — |
| Circulating supply | — | — |
| Maximum supply (CoinGecko) | — | — |
Loading live market data…
Key facts side by side
| Measure | Bitcoin BTC | Litecoin LTC |
|---|---|---|
| Launched | 2009 (January 3) | 2011 (October) |
| Created by | Satoshi Nakamoto (a pseudonym; identity unknown) | Charlie Lee |
| How it's secured | Proof of work (SHA-256 mining) | Proof of work (Scrypt mining) |
| What it's for | Scarce digital money and a store of value, with no company or government in charge | Faster, cheaper payments: a lighter version of Bitcoin |
| Maximum supply | 21,000,000 BTC | 84,000,000 LTC |
How they differ
- Speed: a Litecoin block every 2.5 minutes vs. about 10 minutes for Bitcoin.
- Supply: 84 million LTC vs. 21 million BTC, both with halvings that cut new issuance about every four years.
- Mining: Bitcoin uses SHA-256 machines; Litecoin uses Scrypt machines (and is merge-mined with Dogecoin).
- Size: Bitcoin's market value is many times Litecoin's (see the live table).
This page compares how two cryptocurrencies work. It doesn't say which to buy, and nobody can reliably predict their prices. Both can fall sharply. Read how to research a cryptocurrency before deciding anything.
Questions
Is Bitcoin better than Litecoin?
Neither is simply better. Litecoin is quicker and cheaper to send; Bitcoin is much bigger, more widely held and more secure in terms of mining power. They're used for overlapping purposes, and this isn't advice to buy either.
Why is one coin's price so much higher than the other's?
The price of a single coin mostly reflects how many coins exist. Bitcoin and Litecoin have very different supplies, so comparing prices per coin is misleading. Market cap (price × coins in circulation) is a better measure of size; see market cap explained.
Where does the live data come from?
From CoinGecko's public API, averaged across many exchanges and refreshed about once a minute. The facts table comes from each project's own documentation and the references listed under Sources.
Where to next
Sources
- Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System (bitcoin.org)
- Bitcoin (Wikipedia)
- Litecoin (litecoin.org)
- Litecoin (Wikipedia)
- CoinGecko API (live market data)
Facts checked against the sources listed, as of October 29, 2026. Live data by CoinGecko, for information only and possibly delayed. Educational only; not financial advice. How we write and check pages.