After years of relative obscurity, Litecoin is finally having a moment in the sun After years of relative obscurity, Litecoin is finally having a moment in the sun
A fork of the original Bitcoin network, Litecoin never gained the same reputation as a hot investment as its predecessor. But, having survived several bear cycles, crypto's "digital silver" is drawing investor attention.
2 min read
Updated: Jul. 3, 2023 at 10:58 pm UTC
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Litecoin, one of the oldest digital assets in the industry, has recently seen a significant resurgence. After a period of relative obscurity, the “digital silver” to Bitcoin’s digital gold suddenly surged into the limelight.
Litecoin’s price has risen by 183% since last year’s June lows, with a 60% increase in just the last two weeks. This surge is attributed to several factors, including its survival through multiple bear markets, increased adoption, and an upcoming halving event.
Resilience
In a detailed analysis by Reddit user u/TarkovRedditor, Litecoin’s resilience in market downturns has made it a safer bet for many investors. Since 2017, only 41 assets have outperformed Bitcoin, and Litecoin is one of them. This resilience and its high adoption rate have made it an attractive investment. Further, Litecoin is one of the most popular cryptocurrencies adopted for payment, alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Another factor contributing to Litecoin’s resurgence is its perceived undervaluation. Despite being in a downtrend since 2014, Litecoin has gained momentum during the recent bear market. This, combined with its increasing adoption, makes it a potential investment for future purchasing power. Major stores accepting Litecoin as payment could increase its value over time, unlike fiat currencies that lose purchasing power.
Litecoin’s recent upgrade, the MimbleWimble Extension Block (MWEB), has also played a role in its recent success. Activated in May 2022, the upgrade enables senders of LTC to hide their addresses and the amount of crypto they transfer, similar to privacy coins like Monero and Zcash. This upgrade, coupled with the upcoming halving event on August 2, 2023, has likely contributed to the increased accumulation of Litecoin.
Regulatory clarity has also boosted Litecoin’s appeal. Amid the recent regulatory drama in the crypto markets, Litecoin, Bitcoin, and Bitcoin Cash have avoided being declared securities by the SEC, which may be due to their proof-of-work consensus mechanisms (proof-of-stake chains, by contrast, more closely resemble securities than their PoW counterparts).
However, it’s not just the crypto enthusiasts on Reddit who have noticed Litecoin’s resurgence. The recent listing of Litecoin on EDX Markets and its exemption from the SEC’s list of “unregistered securities” are potential factors contributing to this surge.
Recent news also points to a positive outlook for Litecoin. The upcoming halving event, its entry into the top 10 digital assets by market cap, and partnerships to support the new privacy protocol, MimbleWimble, all contribute to the bullish sentiment around Litecoin.
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Jacob Oliver
Jacob Oliver is a recovering academic and English teacher turned crypto journalist and web3 writer. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Washington.
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