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Litecoin, Start Here

Updated 2026-10-29

Short answer: Litecoin is one of the oldest cryptocurrencies, created in 2011 as a lighter, faster version of Bitcoin. Its coin is LTC. Blocks come about every 2.5 minutes, fees are low, and the supply is capped at 84 million coins.

Addresses

Litecoin addresses start with ltc1, L or M. Like Bitcoin wallets, Litecoin wallets may show you a new receiving address from time to time; old ones keep working. To see everything in our Portfolio, add each address you use.

Older Litecoin addresses starting with 3 look exactly like Bitcoin addresses. Don't mix them up: coins sent on the wrong network are usually lost.

Sending and receiving

  • Pick the Litecoin network when you withdraw from an exchange.
  • Send a small test first to a new address.
  • Wait for a few confirmations before treating a large payment as final.

Privacy option

Litecoin has an optional privacy feature called MWEB. Some exchanges won't accept coins sent from it, so check before using it for a deposit.

On Crypto Lighthouse

  • [Portfolio](/portfolio): add a Litecoin address to see its LTC and value.
  • [Check an Address](/check): activity and sanctions status before you send.

Learn more at litecoin.org.