Litecoin

    Litecoinltc#22

    By Twin · CoinHours Editorial · Coin profile maintained by CoinHours Editorial · Market data refreshes every 60s

    $55.92

    +1.93% (24h)

    7d Change

    -0.27%

    30d Change

    -19.82%

    24h High

    $56.42

    24h Low

    $54.82

    Market Cap$4.35B
    24h Volume$123.96M
    Circulating Supply77.8M LTC
    Max Supply84.0M
    All-Time High$326.23
    ATH Change-82.86%

    Price Chart

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    About Litecoin

    Litecoin is one of the earliest Bitcoin-derived cryptocurrencies, launched in 2011 by former Google engineer Charlie Lee. It uses the Scrypt proof-of-work algorithm and has faster block times and a higher supply cap than Bitcoin, making it well suited for everyday payments. Litecoin remains a long-standing top-ranked asset and is widely supported across exchanges and payment processors. Its longevity and reliability as a payments-focused chain are its defining characteristics.

    Primary use case: Payments, peer-to-peer transfer

    Understanding Litecoin Price Data

    The Litecoin price shown above is a volume-weighted average across major spot exchanges, sourced from CoinGecko and refreshed continuously throughout the trading day. Cryptocurrency markets trade twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week — there is no opening or closing bell — so the 24-hour change figure is a rolling window measured against the price exactly one day prior, not against a fixed daily close. The 7-day and 30-day percentage moves use the same rolling-window methodology, which means the figures shift continuously rather than resetting at midnight.

    Market capitalisation for Litecoin is calculated by multiplying the current price by the circulating supply — the number of LTC units currently in public hands and not locked, burned, or reserved by the protocol. This differs from total supply (all units that have ever been created) and max supply (the protocol-defined cap, where one exists). For assets with significant locked or vesting allocations, fully diluted valuation can be a more useful long-term measure than market cap alone. The 24-hour trading volume figure aggregates spot trading across reporting exchanges and excludes derivatives and over-the-counter activity, which can be substantially larger for major assets.

    All-time high (ATH) figures reflect the peak USD price ever recorded for Litecoin on a major exchange. The ATH change percentage shows how far the current price sits below — or above — that peak, and is one of several inputs the CoinHours Market Cycle Indicator uses when assessing where the broader market sits in its four-year halving cycle. For longer-term investors, ATH drawdown combined with 200-week moving average position and the Fear & Greed Index gives a clearer cycle picture than any single metric in isolation.

    Litecoin for Australian Investors

    In Australia, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) treats Litecoin and other cryptocurrencies as capital gains tax (CGT) assets rather than as currency. Every disposal — selling for AUD, swapping for another crypto, spending on goods or services, or gifting — is a CGT event that must be reported in your tax return. Holding LTC for more than twelve months before disposing of it qualifies you for the 50% individual CGT discount, which is one of the most significant tax planning levers for long-term holders. See the crypto tax encyclopedia entry for a full breakdown of ATO record-keeping requirements, cost-base calculation methods, and the tax treatment of staking rewards, airdrops, and DeFi income.

    Australian investors typically buy Litecoin through a registered exchange that complies with AUSTRAC anti-money-laundering requirements. Once acquired, holdings can be left on the exchange (counterparty risk), moved to a software wallet (convenience with online attack surface), or transferred to a hardware wallet for cold-storage self-custody (highest security, least convenient). The CoinHours security guide walks through the trade-offs in detail, including seed-phrase storage, multi-signature setups, and inheritance planning. For background on the underlying technology, the Crypto Encyclopedia covers blockchain fundamentals, consensus mechanisms, and the Litecoin protocol in plain English.

    Litecoin FAQ

    How is Litecoin different from Bitcoin?

    Litecoin uses the Scrypt mining algorithm instead of SHA-256, processes blocks every 2.5 minutes versus Bitcoin's 10 minutes, and has a total supply cap of 84 million LTC compared to Bitcoin's 21 million. These differences make Litecoin faster for transactions but maintain similar security principles through proof-of-work consensus.

    What are Litecoin's main use cases?

    Litecoin is primarily designed for peer-to-peer payments and everyday transactions. Its faster block times and lower fees compared to Bitcoin make it suitable for smaller, frequent payments. Many merchants and payment processors accept LTC for goods and services, and it's commonly used for transferring value between exchanges.

    How is Litecoin taxed in Australia?

    The ATO treats Litecoin as a cryptocurrency asset subject to capital gains tax when sold, traded, or used for purchases. You must calculate gains or losses based on the difference between acquisition cost and disposal value. Personal use exemptions may apply for transactions under $10,000 used for personal consumption rather than investment.

    Who created Litecoin and when?

    Litecoin was created by Charlie Lee, a former Google engineer, and launched in October 2011. Lee designed it as a fork of Bitcoin's code with modifications to make it more suitable for everyday payments. He controversially sold his LTC holdings in 2017, stating it was to avoid conflicts of interest in his development work.

    What are the main risks of investing in Litecoin?

    Key risks include high price correlation with Bitcoin, reducing diversification benefits, competition from newer blockchain networks with advanced features, mining centralisation concerns, and slower development pace compared to more active projects. Like all cryptocurrencies, LTC is highly volatile and regulatory changes could impact its value and usability.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How often is the Litecoin price updated?

    CoinHours pulls live LTC pricing from CoinGecko, which aggregates trades across major exchanges. The page refreshes the displayed figures every few minutes; the underlying market data updates continuously and may move significantly between refreshes during volatile sessions.

    Why does the Litecoin price differ between exchanges?

    Each exchange runs its own order book, so prices drift slightly based on local supply and demand, regional liquidity, and pair availability. The figure shown here is a weighted average designed to represent the broad market price rather than any single venue. Arbitrage typically keeps the differences small for major assets but can widen during fast moves or on smaller exchanges.

    Is buying Litecoin legal in Australia?

    Yes. Cryptocurrency is legal to buy, hold, and trade in Australia. Exchanges operating in Australia must register with AUSTRAC and comply with anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism financing rules. The ATO treats crypto as property for tax purposes — see the Australian investors section above for tax implications.

    What is market cap and why does it matter?

    Market capitalisation equals current price multiplied by circulating supply and gives a rough measure of an asset's total value in public hands. It is a more meaningful comparison metric than price alone because two coins with identical prices can have radically different supplies. Market cap rank is one input investors use when assessing relative size, but it does not account for locked tokens, future emissions, or actual on-chain liquidity.

    Should I store Litecoin on an exchange or in a wallet?

    Exchange custody is convenient but exposes you to counterparty risk — exchange failures and hacks have wiped out customer balances historically. For amounts material to your finances, a hardware wallet under your own control is the standard recommendation. Read the security guide for a full comparison of custody options and seed-phrase best practices.

    Information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute financial, investment, or tax advice. Cryptocurrency prices are volatile and you can lose your entire investment. Consult a qualified Australian financial adviser and registered tax agent before making investment decisions.