Litecoin LTC

Litecoin (LTC) is an open-source peer-to-peer cryptocurrency and Layer 1 blockchain created by Charlie Lee in 2011. Built from Bitcoin's codebase, Litecoin was designed as a faster and lighter digital-currency network while retaining a decentralized Proof-of-Work architecture.

Litecoin uses the Scrypt Proof-of-Work mining algorithm and targets approximately 2.5-minute blocks. Its monetary policy specifies a maximum supply of 84 million LTC, with mining rewards halving every 840,000 blocks, approximately once every four years.

LTC is the native asset of the Litecoin network and is used for peer-to-peer payments, transaction fees and miner rewards. Litecoin has operated continuously since its 2011 launch and remains supported by an active open-source development community.

Since 2014, Litecoin miners have also been able to merge-mine Dogecoin, allowing the same Scrypt Proof of Work to contribute to both networks.

Litecoin supports SegWit and the Lightning Network and later introduced MimbleWimble Extension Blocks (MWEB). MWEB provides an optional transaction format that can conceal transaction amounts and improve fungibility while operating alongside Litecoin's standard transparent transaction system.

Litecoin Core is the reference full-node and wallet implementation. Development remains active, with ongoing releases addressing network security, MWEB validation, transaction relay and mining infrastructure.