Litecoin is the native LTC currency of an independent payment blockchain, not a token issued on Ethereum. It uses Scrypt proof of work and a Bitcoin-derived transaction model, with optional Mimblewimble Extension Blocks, or MWEB, for confidential transfers.
layer 1 Litecoin
Litecoin
(LTC)
Litecoin is the native LTC currency of an independent payment blockchain, not a token issued on Ethereum. It uses Scrypt proof of work and a Bitcoin-derived transaction model, with optional Mimblewimble Extension Blocks, or MWEB, for confidential transfers.
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What is Litecoin?
Answer sources checked
20 answers source-reviewed with Codex assistance. Reviewed . This review covers the answers, not exchange listings or the rest of the page.
How does Litecoin work?
Litecoin spends previously received transaction outputs and creates new outputs for recipients and change. Scrypt miners compete to add blocks, while nodes enforce transaction and issuance rules. MWEB adds an optional extension-block path rather than replacing ordinary transparent LTC payments.
Who created Litecoin?
Charlie Lee created Litecoin in 2011, using Bitcoin's open-source design as a starting point. Its different mining algorithm and issuance parameters distinguish it from Bitcoin. Today's network depends on independent developers, node operators and miners, not a founder approving each payment.
Source 1
What is Litecoin used for?
LTC is used for peer-to-peer transfers and payments where a recipient actually accepts Litecoin. Users can also choose MWEB-capable wallets for optional confidential transfers. Payment functionality does not make LTC a stable currency or guarantee a merchant will support a particular address type.
Where can you buy Litecoin?
Check a platform's official website for current LTC trading, your country eligibility and Litecoin withdrawal support. Do not assume a listing includes MWEB deposits or withdrawals: that requires separate wallet and service support. A wrapped LTC token is also not automatically native Litecoin.
Litecoin exchange reference guides
Before you buy| Exchange | Observed pairs | Catalogue status | Checked (UTC) | Checklist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coinbase | LTC-BTC, LTC-EUR, LTC-GBP + moreCoinbase Exchange public spot catalogue, not Coinbase Advanced or retail account eligibility | Reported open | Check route | |
| Binance | LTCBNB, LTCBRL, LTCBTC + moreBinance.com global public spot catalogue; not Binance.US or regional/account access | Reported open | Check route | |
| Kraken | LTCAUD, LTCETH, LTCEUR + moreKraken international public currency spot pairs plus Support full names and public canonical-to-altname metadata; not regional, retail, funding or account eligibility. | Reported open | Check route | |
| OKX | LTC-EUR, LTC-TRY, LTC-USDC + moreOKX public SPOT instruments joined to the first thirty-eight global ALL market pages plus three existing category pages. Only explicit SPOT rows with matching API trade ID and base symbol supply names; stocks, swaps and unknown products are excluded. Bounded identity coverage, not regional/account, funding, contract or withdrawal eligibility. | Reported open | Check route | |
| Bybit | LTCBTC, LTCEUR, LTCUSDC + moreBybit global public crypto SPOT instruments with empty symbolType only, joined to the provider-declared CoinGecko ID mapping and exact symbol/full name on its English price page. Price-page coverage is bounded; unmatched identities stay unknown. Not regional, account, funding, contract or withdrawal eligibility. | Reported open | Check route | |
| KuCoin | LTC-BTC, LTC-ETH, LTC-USDC + moreKuCoin global public spot symbols and asset names, not account or withdrawal eligibility | Reported open | Check route | |
| Gate.io | LTC_BTC, LTC_USDC, LTC_USDTGate global normal spot currency-pair catalogue and embedded full names from api.gateio.ws; premarket excluded; not Gate.US/EU/Dubai, account, region or funding eligibility | Reported open | Check route | |
| Bitstamp | ltcbtc, ltceur, ltcusdBitstamp public spot market and currency catalogue, not account eligibility | Reported open | Check route | |
| Binance.US | LTCBTC, LTCUSD, LTCUSD4 + moreBinance.US public spot exchangeInfo plus its own price-page JSON-LD full names and ticker identifiers; not Binance.com, One Click Buy, state, funding or account eligibility. | Reported open | Check route | |
| MEXC | LTCBTC, LTCUSD1, LTCUSDC + moreMEXC public spot exchange information; API permission is separate from catalogue membership and account access | Reported open | Check route | |
| Phemex | sLTCUSDC, sLTCUSDTPhemex public product and currency-name catalogue; only explicitly spot-typed products considered | Reported open | Check route | |
| Bitget | LTCUSDC, LTCUSDTBitget classic public spot catalogue joined to literal names/symbols from the first ten English price-table pages, each bound to its canonical and successful page-specific hydration query. Bounded name coverage, not all price pages or regional/account, contract, funding or withdrawal eligibility. Price presence alone is not a listing. | Reported open | Check route | |
| HTX | ltcbtc, ltcht, ltchusd + moreHTX global public spot symbols plus complete currency full-name settings; explicitly tagged ETPs excluded; API status is not regional/account, retail, contract/network or funding eligibility | Reported open | Check route | |
| Poloniex | LTC_BTC, LTC_USDC, LTC_USDTPoloniex public spot markets and currency metadata, not account or withdrawal support | Reported open | Check route | |
| BingX | LTC-USDC, LTC-USDTBingX public spot symbol catalogue joined to exact full names/tickers from forty page-bound English price JSON-LD lists. First page has an explicit root collection URL; later pages require their own collection URL. Bounded name coverage; price presence alone is not a listing. Not derivatives, account, region, contract, funding or withdrawal eligibility. | Reported open | Check route | |
| Bitfinex | LTCBTC, LTCUSD, LTCUSTBitfinex public exchange-pair configuration and currency labels; not derivatives or account access | Listed; execution unknown | Check route | |
| LBank | ltc_usdc, ltc_usdtLBank public spot accuracy catalogue joined to literal names/symbols on the first ten English price tables. Query pages share the root canonical but must bind the exact current-page number and link. Bounded identity coverage; execution status remains unknown. Not account, regional, funding, contract or withdrawal eligibility. | Listed; execution unknown | Check route | |
| Bitso | ltc_mxn, ltc_usdBitso public exchange books plus official documentation currency names only. Dictionary is not live metadata; book status unknown. Not retail conversion, margin eligibility, region/account or funding access. | Listed; execution unknown | Check route | |
| Independent Reserve | LTC/USDIndependent Reserve public USD spot market summaries for every checked valid primary code plus full-name currency configuration; AUD/NZD/SGD, regional entities, leverage and account eligibility not checked; pair order-entry status not supplied | Listed; execution unknown | Check route |
How to buy Litecoin
Plan your purchaseHow much Litecoin?
How can you buy Litecoin safely?
Verify the platform, fees and exact LTC withdrawal network before buying, then test the receiving route with a small amount. Check MWEB support separately if using that feature. Litecoin's documented 2026 MWEB incident also makes current wallet and node security updates relevant.
Can you buy a fraction of Litecoin?
Yes. One LTC divides into 100 million base units, so buying a whole coin is unnecessary. A platform can impose its own order minimum, withdrawal minimum and display precision; those business limits are different from Litecoin's underlying eight-decimal denomination.
How much does it cost to buy Litecoin?
Your LTC purchase cost includes the executed coin price, spread and platform charges, with withdrawal fees added if you move it off-platform. A Litecoin network fee pays for a transaction, not the purchase itself. MWEB support and withdrawal pricing must be checked separately.
How much is one Litecoin worth?
Litecoin and Bitcoin are separate networks and currencies. A lower dollar quote for LTC is not a discount on BTC, and multiplying a BTC price by a guessed conversion ratio does not establish Litecoin's value. Use an up-to-date LTC market observation, if available, and inspect the quantity in the trading provider's offer. Litecoin's mining rules describe issuance, not a guaranteed future exchange rate against bitcoin or dollars.
Is Litecoin a good investment?
LTC can lose substantial value, and payment use does not establish suitability for your finances. Mining competition, liquidity and implementation failures matter; Litecoin's 2026 MWEB postmortem documents a real validation incident and remediation. This is not financial advice.
Compare two order previews
Use LTC credited after buying fees and spread. Extra USD charges must exclude fees already included in the total. Enter 0 only when confirmed.
Which quote delivers more LTC?
Enter your order-preview numbers or use the labeled example. Unknown charges are never treated as zero.
Litecoin wallets & storage
How do you get a Litecoin wallet?
Choose a wallet that explicitly supports native Litecoin and obtain it from its official publisher. Back up its recovery material privately and test receiving LTC. If you intend to use MWEB, confirm that the particular wallet and receiving service support it before funding that route.
How can you store Litecoin securely?
Keep Litecoin recovery material offline and verify the recipient on your signing device before sending. Use supported, updated software, especially for MWEB: the project's 2026 postmortem describes security fixes after an exploit. A hardware wallet helps protect keys but cannot make a mistaken transfer safe.
Sending & cashing out Litecoin
Match your networks
For LTC, copy the exact network names shown in your apps. This compares your entries, not a verified list of supported networks.
Enter both network names
Copy the exact network name shown for this asset in each app. No supported-network catalogue is assumed here.
How do you send Litecoin to another wallet?
Select Litecoin mainnet, paste the recipient's compatible LTC address and review the amount and fee before signing. Do not send to a Bitcoin address just because the systems share design ancestry. For MWEB, verify support at both ends and make a test transfer first.
How long does a Litecoin transfer take?
A Litecoin transfer must be included by miners, and a receiving service may require further confirmations before crediting it. Block intervals are targets, not delivery promises. Network conditions, the transaction fee and service review can all change the time before funds are usable.
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How much does it cost to send Litecoin?
The sender pays a network fee in LTC, with wallet estimates reflecting the transaction and current relay or mining conditions. It is not a guaranteed flat charge. A trading platform's withdrawal fee is separate, and MWEB or other routes may have different service restrictions.
Can you cash out Litecoin for real money?
You may be able to sell LTC for fiat through a platform that supports your location and payout method. Confirm Litecoin deposit support, required confirmations and any MWEB restrictions before sending. Sale execution, bank withdrawal charges and account review are separate from blockchain settlement.
Is Litecoin traceable?
Ordinary Litecoin transactions expose addresses and amounts on a public ledger. MWEB can conceal amounts and weaken transaction links, but it is optional and does not guarantee complete anonymity. Entry and exit activity and information held by payment services can still reveal useful connections.
Supply, mining & staking
What is the maximum supply of Litecoin?
Litecoin's scheduled issuance limit is 84 million LTC, with mining rewards reduced through halvings. That limit is not the currently circulating supply or a price guarantee. The 2026 MWEB postmortem separately describes an accounting exploit and recovery, not a planned increase in scheduled issuance.
Can you mine Litecoin?
Yes. Litecoin uses Scrypt proof-of-work mining, now typically involving specialized hardware and often merged mining with Dogecoin. Electricity, equipment, pool charges and competition determine costs. Receiving an LTC payout from a service does not necessarily mean your hardware is mining Litecoin itself.
Source 1
Can you stake Litecoin?
Litecoin has no native proof-of-stake reward mechanism: miners secure its base chain. Products advertising LTC interest or staking therefore involve another service or protocol. Their custody, lending, contract and withdrawal risks are separate from simply holding native LTC in your own wallet.