LTC vs XRP: Litecoin vs XRP — 2026 Comparison
This page compares Litecoin (LTC) and XRP (XRP) using the DeFi Intel research dataset. Native asset of Litecoin, an early Bitcoin fork created by Charlie Lee in 2011. Positioned as the silver to Bitcoin's gold, it uses the Scrypt proof-of-work algorithm with a 2.5-minute block time and an 84 million coin hard cap. Widely supported for low-fee payments and merge-mined with Dogecoin. Native asset of the XRP Ledger, designed for fast and low-cost cross-border payments. Uses a federated consensus protocol rather than proof-of-work. As of the last data review, LTC ranks #18 by approximate market capitalisation (≈$7B) and XRP ranks #7 (≈$70B).
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Litecoin (LTC) | XRP (XRP) |
|---|---|---|
| Market-cap rank | #18 | #7 |
| Approx market cap (USD) | $7B | $70B |
| Category | Payments L1 | Payments L1 |
| Chain(s) | Litecoin | XRP Ledger |
| Token standard | native | native |
| Launched | October 2011 | 2012 |
| Consensus role | PoW | — |
| Issuer | — | Ripple |
| Issuer type | Decentralized (no single issuer) | Centralized issuer |
| Total supply | 84,000,000 | 100,000,000,000 |
| Circulating supply | 74,000,000 | 57,000,000,000 |
| Max supply | 84,000,000 | 100,000,000,000 |
Litecoin (LTC) in brief
- Native asset of Litecoin, an early Bitcoin fork created by Charlie Lee in 2011. Positioned as the silver to Bitcoin's gold, it uses the Scrypt proof-of-work algorithm with a 2.5-minute block time and an 84 million coin hard cap. Widely supported for low-fee payments and merge-mined with Dogecoin.
- Launched October 2011.
- Chain-native asset of Litecoin.
- Max supply: 84,000,000.
Full profile: Litecoin (LTC) token page.
XRP (XRP) in brief
- Native asset of the XRP Ledger, designed for fast and low-cost cross-border payments. Uses a federated consensus protocol rather than proof-of-work.
- Launched 2012.
- Chain-native asset of XRP Ledger.
- Max supply: 100,000,000,000.
- Issuer: Ripple.
Full profile: XRP (XRP) token page.
Key differences (data view)
- XRP is the larger asset by market capitalisation: rank #7 (≈$70B) versus rank #18 (≈$7B) for LTC.
- LTC is the older asset — launched in 2011, 1 year before XRP (2012).
- They live on different chains — LTC: Litecoin; XRP: XRP Ledger.
- Both are classified as Payments L1 assets in the DeFi Intel dataset.
- LTC has no central issuer, whereas XRP is issued by a centralized entity (Ripple).
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, LTC or XRP?
XRP (XRP) is larger by market capitalisation: approximately $70B (rank #7) versus $7B (rank #18) for LTC, as of the last DeFi Intel data review.
When did Litecoin and XRP launch?
Litecoin launched in October 2011; XRP launched in 2012.
Are LTC and XRP on the same chain?
No. LTC is on Litecoin, while XRP is on XRP Ledger.
Related comparisons
- BCH vs LTC
- BCH vs XRP
- Litecoin (LTC) token profile
- XRP (XRP) token profile
- All DeFi Intel comparisons →
Methodology & sources
Every figure on this page is drawn from the DeFi Intel token research dataset — the same data that powers the LTC and XRP token profiles. Market capitalisations and supply figures are approximate snapshots from the last dataset review, not live quotes. DeFi Intel publishes editorial research, not financial advice.