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According to a recent announcement from the Litecoin Foundation, Litecoin surpassed 360 million lifetime transactions on November 17, 2025. This figure marks a notable increase in on-chain activity, with approximately 60 million transactions recorded in 2025 alone, representing more than 16 percent of the network's total historical volume since its launch in October 2011.
Independent blockchain explorers, including Blockchair and BitInfoCharts, reported a cumulative total of over 350 million as of the time of writing.
Litecoin's Evolution Since 2011: From Fork to Payment Leader
Litecoin originated in October 2011 as an open-source fork of the Bitcoin codebase, developed by former Google engineer Charlie Lee to address limitations in Bitcoin's design for everyday transactions.
The network introduced the Scrypt hashing algorithm, initially intended to resist specialized mining hardware and to promote decentralized participation through CPU and GPU mining. Over time, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) emerged for Scrypt, but the algorithm still requires more memory than Bitcoin's SHA-256, contributing to a distinct mining ecosystem.
Key technical specifications set Litecoin apart:
- A total supply cap of 84 million coins to encourage broader circulation.
- Block generation every 2.5 minutes for faster confirmations than Bitcoin's 10-minute blocks.
- Focus on low transaction fees, typically under $0.01.
These features positioned Litecoin as a complementary asset, often called "digital silver" to Bitcoin's "digital gold," emphasizing utility in payments rather than solely as a store of value.
By 2013, Litecoin had achieved widespread exchange listings and merchant acceptance, processing millions of transactions amid early crypto adoption. The network maintained 100 percent uptime throughout its history, with no major outages or chain reorganizations.
In 2017, Litecoin became the first major cryptocurrency to activate Segregated Witness (SegWit), enabling scalability improvements and paving the way for Lightning Network compatibility. This upgrade reduced transaction malleability and increased block capacity.
The 2020s brought further refinements.
The 2022 activation of Mimblewimble Extension Blocks (MWEB) added optional privacy features, while integrations with payment processors solidified its role in commerce. As of writing, ongoing developments in Layer-2 solutions have expanded its capabilities beyond basic transfers, reinforcing its evolution into a payment-focused blockchain with real-world applications in remittances, retail, and cross-border settlements.
Historical Transaction Milestones for Litecoin
Litecoin has recorded steady growth in transaction volume over its 14-year history. The network processes transactions at lower costs and higher speeds than Bitcoin, enabling consistent usage.
Key cumulative milestones include:
- Approximately 100 million transactions by mid-2020, following recovery from the 2018 market downturn.
- Around 180 million transactions by October 2023, when the network handled 51 million transactions that year.
- 300 million transactions processed between January and July 2025, a figure the Litecoin Foundation highlighted as significant for a payment-focused network.
- The crossing of 360 million on November 17, 2025, driven by the addition of about 60 million transactions in 2025.
The 2025 total of 60 million in the first 11 months exceeded previous full-year highs, indicating accelerated usage.
Factors Driving 2025 Transaction Growth
Several elements contributed to the heightened activity observed in 2025.
Low fees and fast confirmation times supporting everyday payments
The Litecoin network maintained average transaction fees below $0.01 throughout 2025, combined with a consistent block time of 2.5 minutes. These technical specifications allowed the blockchain to handle small-value transfers efficiently. Merchants and users favored Litecoin for micropayments and retail transactions where higher fees on other networks, such as Bitcoin, during congestion periods, made alternatives less practical. This cost structure directly contributed to higher daily volumes, as users selected Litecoin for routine on-chain activity rather than holding or making larger transfers.
Strong performance in merchant payment processors
Payment gateways reported Litecoin ranking first or second in transaction count for much of 2025. On BitPay, Litecoin frequently led in the number of processed payments, accounting for shares of 34-40 percent in certain months, ahead of Bitcoin in volume despite Bitcoin's larger average transaction size.
CoinGate data showed similar trends, with Litecoin maintaining a top position among supported cryptocurrencies. These processors handle payments for thousands of merchants across retail, gift cards, and digital services, providing verifiable evidence of real-world commercial use.
Increased adoption of Mimblewimble Extension Blocks (MWEB) for privacy
The MWEB upgrade, activated in May 2022, enables optional confidential transactions that hide amounts while keeping the core network lightweight. In 2025, the number of MWEB-compatible addresses and transactions using this feature rose noticeably. Users seeking privacy for transfers, such as remittances or personal payments, opted into MWEB without slowing confirmation times or increasing fees.
This added functionality attracted a segment of users who required enhanced confidentiality, contributing to overall on-chain volume without altering Litecoin's primary focus on speed and low cost.
Corporate treasury additions and institutional involvement
Several companies announced Litecoin holdings in their corporate treasuries during 2025. Examples include MEI Pharma allocating funds to LTC and entities like Luxxfolio and Lite Strategy building positions measured in tens of thousands to millions of coins. These moves involved on-chain transfers and increased large-value transactions (often over $100,000).
Additionally, integrations with platforms reached broader audiences; for instance, adding Litecoin to the Telegram Wallet enabled direct peer-to-peer transfers within the messaging app used by hundreds of millions, facilitating casual and cross-border use.
Improved network security and participation metrics
Litecoin's hashrate climbed to repeated peaks in the 2.7-4 petahashes per second range during 2025, reflecting greater miner commitment and enhanced network security. Daily active addresses averaged above 400,000, with frequent days exceeding 1 million. Large-value transfers rose in parallel with retail activity, indicating participation from both individual users and higher-volume entities. Approximately 8.7 million retail holders were active on the network, distributing ownership broadly and supporting sustained transaction levels.
Implications of the Transaction Milestone
The achievement reflects sustained on-chain usage for a blockchain operational since 2011. Activity in 2025 stemmed from payment processing, remittances, privacy-enabled transfers, and institutional holdings rather than short-term speculation.
Litecoin's technical attributes, low fees, rapid confirmations, and proven security support its position as a complement to Bitcoin for transactional purposes. Developments such as Layer-2 scaling efforts and merchant integrations contributed to the year's volume.
In summary, the milestone provides evidence of ongoing network participation measured by verifiable on-chain data.
Sources
- Litecoin’s Retail-Driven Growth: https://www.tradingview.com/news/coinpedia:8f30e1420094b:0-litecoin-s-retail-driven-growth-8-7-million-users-and-counting/
- What is Litecoin: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/litecoin.asp
- X Post from Litecoin Foundation: https://x.com/LTCFoundation/status/1990380147019849968?s=20
- Litecoin Explorer: https://blockchair.com/litecoin
- Lite Strategy First Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 Results: https://www.coindesk.com/press-release/2025/11/17/lite-strategy-reports-first-quarter-fiscal-year-2026-results
- Litecoin SegWit activation: https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2017/05/10/litecoin-successfully-activates-segwit