Litecoin (LTC) is a decentralized cryptocurrency created as a fork of the Bitcoin blockchain in 2011 by Charlie Lee, a former Google engineer. It was designed to address concerns about Bitcoin’s centralization by making it harder for application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) miners and large-scale mining operations to dominate. To achieve this, Litecoin employs the Scrypt Proof-of-Work Algorithm while maintaining a peer-to-peer transaction system. As an open-source global payment network, Litecoin aims to serve as a medium for everyday transactions.
| Did you know that Charlie Lee referred to Litecoin as “the silver to Bitcoin’s gold” because it was meant to complement Bitcoin rather than replace it? |
The recent MimbleWimble upgrade, a privacy protocol, enhances confidentiality by obscuring transaction details. It also boosts efficiency by removing unnecessary data and compressing transactions.
With its quick and consistent block generation, LTC can handle a higher transaction volume compared to Bitcoin, reducing network congestion during peak times.
LTC benefits from a strong developer community focused on continuous improvement, contributing to its resilience, longevity, strong reputation, and stability within the crypto community.
Litecoin’s total coin capacity is 84 million, with a transaction capacity of up to 50 transactions per second, much higher than Bitcoin’s 21 million coins and 7 transactions per second.
Litecoin is used as a payment method in retail and e-commerce due to its faster confirmation times and lower transaction fees. It is also suitable for cross-border transactions, making it ideal for remittances.
In the finance sector, LTC is ideal for microtransactions such as small value transfers, tipping, and more. It is supported by numerous cryptocurrency ATMs, facilitating easy buying or selling.
Litecoin is accepted by many gaming platforms for in-game purchases, credits, and other assets. It is also used in online casinos and betting platforms, and for tipping content creators.
LTC can be traded against other cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies on major exchanges and used in trading strategies like margin trading and futures trading.
Many charities and non-profits accept Litecoin for donations due to its low cost, ensuring that a large portion of the donation goes directly to the cause.