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Wondering how to buy Litecoin?
While it might not have the presence of its big brother, Bitcoin, Litecoin still holds a solid place as a popular alternative “alt” coin.
So, what’s the deal with this streamlined blockchain?
We’ll cover everything you need to know, from what Litecoin is to making your first purchase. By the end, you’ll have a firm grasp of what this cryptocurrency has to offer, as well as a simple way to add your first few coins to your digital wallet.
First, let’s cover the basics of Litecoin.
Think of Litecoin as the digital silver to Bitcoin’s digital gold. It was created in 2011 by Charles “Charlie” Lee*, a former Google engineer.
The goal of Litecoin was to become a lighter and faster version of Bitcoin — hence the name.
What’s so different? Here are a few key distinctions between the two:
That last part is pretty important. When we say create a block, we’re referring to how the blockchain network manages transactions. Because Litecoin generates blocks faster, it processes transactions faster.
How much faster? Well, four times faster.
It’s also a lot cheaper. The average transaction fee based on data from March 2025 is around $0.0058 (data from bitinfocharts.com). Again, compare that to Bitcoin, which has an average transaction fee for March 2025 of around $1.46* (data from bitinfocharts.com).
Let’s take a deeper look at the Bitcoin vs. Litecoin comparison.
While we’ve covered the transaction speed and costs, there is still a lot to the story for curious potential buyers. First off, there’s no denying that Bitcoin trumps Litecoin in terms of market share and popularity.
Bitcoin has cemented itself as digital gold for its reputation as a store of value.
Litecoin, on the other hand, operates more like a payment system than a store of value. Its streamlined blockchain network operates much more efficiently than Bitcoin.
Other than that, the two are actually quite similar.
In fact, Litecoin has always been seen as a reaction to Bitcoin. For one, it’s a fork, meaning it uses the same code as Bitcoin, although modified. It leverages similar technology and even uses a similar mining system for network security.
The big difference lies in that use case.
Since Litecoin came after Bitcoin, and as it is seen as a payment system, it hasn’t received the same kind of investor attention. Moreover, it does not see the same type of developer activity as Bitcoin.
This is not to say that hard work isn’t happening on the Litecoin blockchain. But it certainly doesn’t have the same level of activity as Bitcoin.
Wondering how to buy Litecoin?
Well, Bitcoin Depot has you covered. With our buy online service, you can purchase all types of cryptocurrencies with either a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
Of course, Litecoin is on the list, but so are a few other popular coins:
How does it all work? It’s simple:
That’s it!
Once you’ve completed all these steps, all you have to do is wait for your Litecoin to hit your wallet.
Let’s talk about storing your Litecoin.
If you decide to buy through Bitcoin Depot and use our digital wallet, you’re in good shape. It means you’re storing your coins in a non-custodial wallet where you have complete control over your coins.
If you purchase through an exchange, it’s a bit of a different story.
There’s a common phrase in the crypto world: “Not your keys, not your coins.” What this means is that if you don’t have control over your private keys, such as when you aren’t using a non-custodial wallet, you don’t really own your Litecoin.
Personal responsibility is key in crypto.
If you want to take your security a step further, consider a hardware wallet. These take the digital world offline into a physical device that stores your coins. A popular hardware wallet brand is Ledger*, which offers devices that can store your newly purchased Litecoin.
So that’s the ins and outs of how to buy Litecoin.
Not only do you know what Litecoin is, but you also know how to make your first purchase using Bitcoin Depot’s buy online service.
We’re all about convenience here.
That’s why we offer several crypto choices, including Litecoin, for users to buy using a debit card, credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. You can purchase either through the web page or through the Bitcoin Depot app.
Check out our buy online service today.
*The information provided above is for informational purposes only. The inclusion of any particular 3rd party site does not imply an endorsement, sponsorship, or partnership between Bitcoin Depot and the 3rd parties listed above. While Bitcoin Depot endeavors to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the information provided, we do not guarantee the reliability of any 3rd party’s information.