LTC

Litecoin (LTC) is a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency and blockchain network created in 2011 by Charlie Lee as a lighter alternative to Bitcoin. Operating on its own independent blockchain, Litecoin shares Bitcoin's fundamental architecture but implements several technical modifications designed to improve transaction speed and efficiency. The network uses a Scrypt hashing algorithm for proof-of-work consensus rather than Bitcoin's SHA-256, and features a faster block generation time of approximately 2.5 minutes compared to Bitcoin's 10 minutes, enabling quicker transaction confirmations. With a maximum supply capped at 84 million coins—four times Bitcoin's 21 million—Litecoin serves primarily as a medium of exchange and store of value within the cryptocurrency ecosystem. The token is widely supported across major cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets, and has maintained significant market capitalization since its inception. Litecoin's longevity and established infrastructure have made it one of the oldest and most recognized altcoins, often described as the "silver to Bitcoin's gold," though it remains substantially less adopted for daily transactions than its proponents initially envisioned.