Learn the difference between the two – What Is Litecoin and What Is It Used For?
Often referred to as the little brother of Bitcoin, Litecoin is a peer-to-peer (P2P) cryptocurrency that has gained widespread adoption since its creation in 2011.
Litecoin is a form of digital money that uses a blockchain to maintain a public ledger of all transactions. It is used to transfer funds between individuals or businesses without the need for an intermediary such as a bank or payment processing service.
What Makes Litecoin Different
Three things make Litecoin different from other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin:
- Speed
- Number of coins
- Market cap
SPEED
Litecoin is based on the same open-source code behind Bitcoin, with some notable differences. It was created by engineer Charlie Lee to be the silver to Bitcoin’s gold. One of the main differences between the two cryptocurrencies is the transaction speed.
Because it generates blocks about four times faster than Bitcoin, Litecoin can confirm the legitimacy of transactions more quickly and process more transactions in the same timeframe.
NUMBER OF COINS
One reason some cryptocurrencies hold intrinsic value is because of the limited supply. Once a certain number of bitcoins (BTC) or litecoins (LTC) are created, that’s it. No more new coins can be created.
Bitcoin has a limit of 21 million coins. Litecoin will max out at 84 million.
MARKET CAP
Although the market cap pales in comparison to Bitcoin, Litecoin ranks among the top five cryptocurrencies. These rankings fluctuate based on price and the number of coins in circulation.
Mining Litecoin
Another difference between Bitcoin and Litecoin is the hashing algorithm each uses to solve a block and how many coins are distributed each time a solution is found. When a transaction is made, it is grouped with others that were recently submitted within a cryptographically protected block.
Computers known as miners use the cycles of their GPUs (graphics processing units) and CPUs (central processing units) to solve complex mathematical problems. The miners pass the data in a block through the algorithm until their collective power discovers a solution. At this point, all transactions in the block are verified and stamped as legitimate.
Miners also reap the fruits of their labor each time a block gets solved. A predefined number of coins is distributed among thoe who helped out. The more powerful hashers get most of the coins. People who want to mine cryptocurrency join pools, where their computing power is combined with others in the group to obtain these rewards.
Litecoin and Bitcoin use contrasting algorithms when hashing. Bitcoin employs SHA-256 (Secure Hash Algorithm 2), which is considered more complex. Litecoin uses a memory-intensive algorithm referred to as scrypt.
Different proof-of-work algorithms mean different hardware. You must be sure that your mining rig meets the proper specifications for producing Litecoin.
If you’re interested in moving forward with Litecoin mining, try some copy-paste sample CGminer.conf and Bat Files.
How to Buy Litecoin
If you want to own some Litecoin but aren’t interested in mining it, purchase cryptocurrency with another cryptocurrency on an exchange site. Some of these exchanges, and other services, such as Coinbase, allow you to purchase Litecoin with fiat currency (currency that’s backed by its issuing government), like U.S. dollars.
Litecoin Wallets
Like bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies, litecoins are typically stored in a digital wallet. There are different kinds of wallets. Some are software-based and live on your computer or mobile device. Others are physical hardware wallets.
Another secure, yet outdated and complex, method to store litecoins is to create a paper wallet. Creating this wallet involves generating and printing a private key on a computer that isn’t connected to the web.
Each wallet has private keys that are required to receive and send coins to and from your Litecoin address. Because these keys are stored offline in a hardware wallet, the keys are more secure than wallets connected to the internet.
These application-centric wallets exist in the form of desktop or mobile software and are available for most popular operating systems and devices. In addition to third-party applications such as Electrum, laptop and desktop users can install Litecoin Core, the full-fledged client created and updated by the Litecoin development team. Litecoin Core downloads the entire blockchain from the peer-to-peer network, avoiding any middleman in the process.
Litecoin Blockchain Explorers
As with other public cryptocurrencies, all Litecoin transactions in its blockchain are public and searchable. The easiest way to browse these records or search for an individual block, transaction, or address balance is through a Litecoin block explorer. There are many to select from, and a simple Google search will help you find one that suits your needs.
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