Litecoin has quietly evolved beyond its early "silver to Bitcoin's gold" positioning. Originally created in 2011 as a faster, lighter alternative to Bitcoin, LTC processes transactions in roughly 2.5 minutes compared to Bitcoin's 10 minutes, making it practical for everyday payments. What's changed recently? The network now supports increased adoption through merchants accepting it, while the halving events have maintained its scarcity narrative. Technically, Litecoin uses Scrypt mining rather than SHA-256, which once offered different hardware implications—though ASIC dominance has since leveled the playing field. Today's LTC market relevance centers on its role as a testbed for Bitcoin innovations (SegWit, Taproot features often debut on Litecoin first) and its genuine utility in cross-border transactions where speed matters. Whether you're looking at it as a store of value, payment layer, or testing ground for blockchain tech, understanding LTC's steady presence in the top-tier altcoin space helps explain why it's remained relevant through multiple market cycles.