Where to Buy Litecoin in 2023 – Beginner’s Guide

Litecoin was launched over a decade ago and is now accepted by more than 3,000 merchants worldwide.

By the end of reading this beginner’s guide, you will know how to buy Litecoin and which wallet to use to store your newly purchased tokens.

We also review the best crypto trading platforms and explain the key benefits of investing in Litecoin today.

Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. 

It really is that simple to invest in cryptocurrency when using a newbie-friendly platform like eToro.

If you are a complete novice, you will probably prefer the in-depth walkthrough we offer later in this guide.

Where to Buy Litecoin

Litecoin is one of the most well-known and best altcoins in the crypto market. In this guide so far, we’ve shown you how easy it is to complete a cryptocurrency purchase.

We also aim to help you make your mind up on where to buy Litecoin in safety at a low cost. There are tons of platforms offering this crypto asset, so it can be hard to separate the good from the bad.

We weigh up everything from fees and available markets to regulatory licenses and crypto wallets. With this in mind, below you will find our reviews of the best crypto platforms to complete your Litecoin purchase.

1. eToro – Overall Best Place to Buy Litecoin in 2023

eToro is the overall best place to buy Litecoin for US investors. This reputable trading platform serves more than 27 million people around the world and holds a license from numerous regulatory bodies. Crucially, this includes the SEC and FINRA in the US. You have various options when you buy Litecoin at eToro.

You can simply invest on the main platform whereby any digital tokens you buy will be added to your eToro portfolio. This cuts out the need to remember or keep private keys safe. It’s also super convenient to access your investments as it’s a simple case of signing in and clicking ‘Portfolio’.

Alternatively, when you’re familiar with how to buy LTC, you might opt to download the eToro crypto wallet app for your iOS or Android device. This is free to download and functions like any other crypto wallet, although there is also a private key recovery feature. In this case, the regulation comes from the GFSC.

The minimum stake required to place an order to buy Litecoin is $10, due to the broker’s acceptance of fractional crypto investing. $10 is also the minimum deposit amount required and there are plenty of accepted payment methods. This comprises e-wallets like Neteller, Skrill, and PayPal, as well as bank wires and Rapid Transfer.

If you want to know how to buy Litecoin with a debit card, you can do this with ease at eToro. You can also make a deposit using a credit card. eToro doesn’t charge US traders a cent to make a deposit as it operates in USD site-wide. You will also find low commissions here, with only 1% payable when you buy cryptocurrencies.

This trading platform lists over 70 crypto assets at the time of writing, albeit, eToro regularly adds new projects. If you decide to create a diverse portfolio of assets, US traders can access ETFs and stocks with 0% commission at eToro. This broker also offers some passive trading tools such as smart portfolios.

There are dozens of portfolios to choose from and 12 are dedicated exclusively to cryptocurrencies. This enables you to add multiple tokens to your portfolio in a single investment. eToro manages and rebalances smart portfolios so that you don’t have to. We also like the copy trading tool. This enables investors of all shapes and sizes to mirror the trading positions of a pro.

The best part is you can use the filter to invest in someone who concentrates on trading cryptocurrencies. If they place an order to invest in Litecoin, you’ll find that you also have LTC tokens in your portfolio. eToro also supports crypto staking with access to several popular coins – including Ethereum, Tron, and Cardano.

What We Like:

Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. 

2. Crypto.com – Great Crypto Exchange for Earning Interest on Litecoin

Crypto.com is well worth your consideration if you’re still making your mind up on where to buy Litecoin. There are around 250 digital currencies to choose from on the platform, which is great for diversification purposes. Better yet, you can earn up to 14.5% per annum when you buy and hold cryptocurrencies.

Check the platform for more detail on the different APYs on offer. This trading platform also facilitates fixed or flexible staking and provides access to one of the best NFT marketplaces. This is in addition to a popular crypto wallet. You will also find the Crypto.com credit card and a decentralized exchange.

This crypto provider also offers an app that is free to download on your cell phone and it supports storage for more than 150 digital currencies. There is a commission fee charged here, which is highly competitive at up to 0.4% of the position value. Note that Crypto.com also offers a reduction on this fee for high-volume traders who qualify.

Crypto.com stipulates a minimum deposit of $10 when funding your account to buy Litecoin. If you opt for a credit card when you fund your investments, you will be liable for a fee of 2.99%. If you make a deposit using ACH, you won’t have to pay a fee. Furthermore, this payment type is processed immediately. Note the minimum deposit on ACH is just $20.

What We Like:

Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product.

3.  Coinbase – Good Crypto Exchange for Beginners to Buy Litecoin

Coinbase has a lot to offer, especially for beginners learning how to buy Litecoin for the first time. The site is easy to get around and there is a free cell phone app so you can invest in Litecoin on the move. Furthermore, there is a section dedicated to educational content – which includes tutorials, trading tips, and crypto basics.

There is also a Coinbase self-custody crypto wallet, which will require you to take responsibility for your own private keys. You do not need a Coinbase account to access the wallet. Newbies are probably better sticking with the standard trading platform or app as you don’t need to worry about keeping a wallet safe.

Do note the commission fee here is 1.49% for every cryptocurrency position you open or close. Unfortunately, unlike the previously mentioned eToro, Coinbase doesn’t offer copy trading or smart portfolios. With that said, you can opt into the reoccurring buy feature which is exactly how it sounds.

You can set this feature up by scheduling monthly, weekly, or even daily purchases and they will be automatically actioned at predetermined intervals. You can fund your account via Fedwire, ACH, or a debit card, however, the latter does command a fee of 3.99% on each deposit. US investors can also buy Litecoin with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal.

What We Like:

Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment products.

4. Binance – Popular Crypto Exchange With Low Commissions

Binance offers US investors a low-cost way to buy Litecoin – as the commission here is a super competitive 0.10% per trade. There are two platforms offered by Binance. The first offers over 600 digital currencies to global traders. The US exchange caters to American clients only and supports more than 80 cryptocurrencies.

The Binance platform is suitable for both newbie investors and seasoned traders. With that said, Binance is not as beginner-friendly as the aforementioned eToro or Crypto.com. Nonetheless, Binance also recurring crypto buys – which makes dollar-cost averaging easier. Also, look out for ‘earn and learn’ promotions and other reward schemes offered by the platform to see whether you qualify.

If you want to be able to buy Litecoin on the move, download the Binance.US cell phone app. Alternatively, you could buy Litecoin and transfer tokens from the main platform to the Binance Chain Wallet. Another storage solution offered by Binance is the well-known Trust Wallet app.

The Trust Wallet app is better suited to people with experience not only buying crypto but storing it too. This is because it entails taking care of the private keys needed to access your Litecoin tokens. If you think this is the best place to buy Litecoin, you can sign up and make a deposit with a wire transfer or ACH with no fee.

Alternatively, you can fund your account with a credit/debit card. Crucially, this attracts a hefty fee of 4.5%, on top of the instant purchase charge of 0.5%.

What We Like:

Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product.

What is Litecoin?

Litecoin was launched in 2011 by former Google developer Charlie Lee. The goal of Litecoin was to make the completion of crypto transactions smoother, cheaper, and faster. It was created using a copy of Bitcoin’s source code. Litecoin is one of the first altcoins, or cryptocurrencies, other than the market leader Bitcoin.

Litecoin was once the second-largest cryptocurrency in terms of market capitalization. Because of its resemblance to Bitcoin, Litecoin is popular among those searching for a low-cost alternative to BTC tokens. Essentially, Litecoin is a decentralized digital currency that works without the help of a central bank.

Litecoin processes and records transactions using blockchain technology. New blocks of information are added to the Litecoin blockchain when batches of transactions are completed. Miners of Litecoin employ huge amounts of processing power to solve challenging mathematical problems in order to win the ability to validate transactions and add new blocks to the network.

An increasing number of merchants accept Litecoin as a form of payment. Furthermore, as of 2021, US PayPal users can use the platform to pay for goods with Litecoin. This is achieved using PayPal’s ‘Check out with Crypto’ feature whereby you can swap Litecoin for USD with no extra fees.

Is Litecoin a Good Investment?

As we touched on, Litecoin was created to be a low-cost Bitcoin alternative. It performs similar duties to Bitcoin, but with cheaper transaction fees and fewer resources required by miners.

To aid your decision-making process on whether to buy Litecoin, below you’ll see some important factors to consider before proceeding:

Litecoin is a Well-Established Cryptocurrency

When people venture into the world of cryptocurrencies, there are a few recognizable projects they go for. Some people opt to learn how to buy Litecoin rather than Bitcoin – because although similar, it has a much cheaper price point.

Not only that, but choosing to invest in a cryptocurrency with a track record of over a decade is considered to be a lot less risky approach when compared to a brand new project.

After all, Litecoin has been around since 2011 and has maintained a position in the top cryptocurrencies by market cap for years.

Litecoin is Adding Value to the Network With Technological Upgrades

The competition to innovate in the crypto industry is still one to keep an eye on when you invest in Litecoin. Developers on a variety of networks are frantically trying to add value to their projects in any way they can.

Namely, developers are now focusing on improving transaction speeds, cutting fees, and becoming more sustainable, both technically and ecologically.

On these fronts, Litecoin is also making strides:

• OmniLite is a decentralized token generation tool that was introduced by the Litecoin Foundation
• To explain further, OmniLite is a layered protocol built on top of the Litecoin blockchain that makes use of the cryptocurrency’s cheap cost and high level of security
• It will be possible to create stable currencies based on the Litecoin blockchain using OmniLite
• At the start of 2022, the Litecoin team announced that the long-awaited Mimblewimble Extension Block (MWEB) update will be included in the Litecoin Core 0.21.2 release candidate
• The objective is to enable fungibility for everybody while boosting Litecoin’s scalability
• MWEB will be an opt-in feature that has the potential to make Litecoin the most cash-like cryptocurrency in the space
• The Taproot update, which improves security and privacy, will also be included in the next upgrade

The results of this are yet to be proven. However, it is believed that developers will be more inclined to use Litecoin’s blockchain. Thus, benefiting from faster processing times and reduced fees to create a layered economy.

Litecoin’s Network of Merchants

If you are looking into how to invest in Litecoin because you are seeking a token that is not only established but also stable, you can’t go far wrong.

Wider acceptance of a cryptocurrency can make its value skyrocket in the long term. Investors who buy Litecoin could benefit greatly from the cryptocurrency’s widespread adoption.

• Over 3,150 merchants are said to accept Litecoin as a means of payment
• In late 2021, news surfaced that Walmart was to begin accepting Litecoin as a payment option
• This sent the Litecoin price on a wild journey that saw gains of 20% in just one day

However, this event turned out to be fake news. With that said, it highlighted the cryptocurrency’s existing merchant network as a potential incentive to buy Litecoin and hold onto the tokens long term.

The Litecoin network continues to be one of the most recognized crypto assets by businesses worldwide, as well as being a popular digital token.

If this pattern continues, Litecoin’s value has huge potential to rise in the long run. At least, that’s what some market analysts believe. Crypto assets are notoriously unpredictable, so carry out thorough research prior to investing in Litecoin.

Litecoin Offers a Much Faster Transaction Speed Than Bitcoin

Part of the reason Litecoin was founded was to improve transaction speeds. Whilst it’s not the fastest in this industry, it beats Bitcoin hands down.

See some examples below:

• A Bitcoin transaction can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour
• Bitcoin can only handle around 7 seconds per second
• Litecoin is able to process transactions in around 2.5 minutes
• Litecoin handles about 56 transactions per second

As you can see, Litecoin is a lot more efficient in terms of transaction speeds, which is another reason the crypto asset is so popular amongst investors.

Litecoin Has Lower Fees Than Other Long-Established Cryptocurrencies

Crypto fees are transaction charges incorporated into the networks that keep digital currencies running. Furthermore, third-party services including exchanges, ATMs, and trading applications levy their own charges.

As such, low fees could be the deciding factor when asking yourself ‘should I buy Litecoin?’.

See some fee comparisons below to assess average transaction fees as of writing:

• Litecoin transactions are averaging $0.02
• Bitcoin is averaging $2.10
• The average price of an Ethereum transaction is around $15

The Litecoin network’s comparatively cheap costs are appealing to people who use it for transfers.

As such, for those looking to get the most out of this network, Litecoin is a more practical and cost-effective solution than some of the other big players in the crypto space.

Moreover, given the difficulties experienced by some of the major cryptocurrency networks during peak hours, smaller and more flexible options like Litecoin are expected to receive continued attention.

Risk of Choosing to Buy Litecoin

As we’ve discussed, there are many benefits to familiarizing yourself with when learning how to buy Litecoin. However, whether or not Litecoin represents a good investment for you will depend on a number of different factors, such as your tolerance for risk.

Price swings are normal, especially with crypto assets. However, there are other risks to be aware of and we’ve listed some of these below:

Competition From Rival Blockchains

A risk to be aware of before you buy Litecoin is that it faces competition from other blockchains.

There are now thousands of cryptocurrency projects and Litecoin competes with a slew of other blockchains that are continually developing and improving.

It remains to be seen whether Litecoin can stay up with the trendsetters in the crypto scene.

Slower Than Other Crypto Projects

As we mentioned, Litecoin offers much faster transaction speeds than some of the original and most well-known cryptocurrencies.

With that said, there are much faster options out there:

• Ethereum can process about 16 transactions per second
• ZCash can handle about 27 transactions per second
• Dash is able to process about 35 transactions per second

Higher efficiency indicates that the blockchain behind the coin is better equipped to move data between parties and complete transactions. As such, when you buy Litecoin, you will need to keep a close eye on the competition. 

Litecoin Has Four Times More Tokens Than Bitcoin

There are four times as many Litecoin tokens in circulation than the aforementioned Bitcoin.

Because Bitcoin has a smaller supply and higher demand, Litecoin has a significantly lower market valuation. This is something to bear in mind when you learn how to invest in Litecoin.

See a comparison below:

Bitcoin:

• Bitcoin has a token limit of 21 million
• Over 19 million BTC tokens have been mined as of March 2022
• This equates to roughly 90.5% of the total, with only 2 million yet to be distributed

Litecoin:

• Litecoin has a token limit of 86 million
• Over 70 million Litecoin tokens are in circulation
• This equates to approximately 83.3%, with just under 16 million still to be distributed

In principle, more tokens appear to be a big advantage for Litecoin. However, this is not the case. This is because, as we said, cryptocurrency value is determined by supply and demand.

Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. 

Litecoin Has Been Slow to Recover Since 2017

Litecoin’s price had risen to $10 in April 2017, just as the first crypto market rally was gaining traction and the public was waking up to digital currencies.

• By December 2017, Litecoin was trading at just over $375
• Litecoin has seen multiple mild volatility cycles since the 2017 crypto surge
• For example, in December 2018, the price of Litecoin fell under $20 before making a rebound between April and June 2019
• In May 2021, Litecoin shot up again, this time reaching over $350
• Despite its vigor, the more recent rally was short-lived
• Litecoin has failed to break beyond the $280 since

The price of crypto assets can also very much be determined by investor moods, and high-profile figures making comments on social media.

Litecoin doesn’t get much press, and a cryptocurrency’s popularity can influence its capacity to increase value over time. Some Litecoin price predictions for 2022 and beyond are very optimistic.

With that said, estimates are frequently incorrect in the cryptocurrency space so tread with caution.

Furthermore, some countries are currently considering how to regulate cryptocurrencies. New legislation might result in significant price fluctuations for all cryptocurrencies, including Litecoin.

Litecoin Price

At the time of writing, you can buy Litecoin for $123.92. The trading volume in the last 24 hours was just under $800 million. The market cap at this time is approximately $8.8 billion and Litecoin is in the top 25 crypto assets.

There are just over 70 million LTC coins in circulation, and as we mentioned earlier, the maximum supply of Litecoin tokens is capped at 84 million.

Cryptocurrency prices fluctuate and therefore the prices, market cap and the number of tokens in circulation will invariably change. With that said, it shines some light on how Litecoin is performing.

Litecoin hit public exchanges in 2013 at a value of $4.40. After a brief increase in late 2013 and early 2014, the cryptocurrency remained flat, at which time, you could buy Litecoin for less than $10.

In December 2017 Litecoin skyrocketed to $375. It soon fell, experiencing a lot of volatility over the next couple of years. However, the all-time highest value of this crypto asset was May 2021 when it reached $413.

Litecoin Price Prediction

LTC tokens are trading at a much lower value than the previously mentioned all-time high, which could represent an opportunity to buy Litecoin at a discounted price. As more merchants and businesses accept Litecoin – its value could rise along with demand.

• Some market analysts think that Litecoin will reach an annual high of almost $178 by the end of 2022.
• According to the same analyst, by 2023 investors might have to fork out $187 to buy Litecoin, then $184.80 the following year, before hitting an average of $252 in 2025.

Always keep in mind that a Litecoin price prediction is not a replacement for conducting your own thorough research and this is all speculation.

Because cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile, it’s critical to do your homework rather than accepting Litecoin price predictions as fact.

Ways of Buying Litecoin

When learning the ins and outs of how to buy Litecoin and deciding on the best platform to execute your order, you will notice there are various ways to fund your investment.

With that said, what is supported and what you might pay will vary between platforms. You might also be interested in our how to mine Litecoin guide.

Buy Litecoin With PayPal

PayPal is a popular e-wallet, albeit, not all platforms will allow you to buy Litecoin this way.

As such, if this is your preferred deposit method, make sure you check this out before creating a trading account.

For instance:

• At Coinbase, clients can buy Litecoin with a PayPal account at 3.99%
• PayPal is accepted at Crypto.com, but only via its proprietory debit card. This involves multiple transfers and commands a transaction fee of 2.1%

If you have a PayPal account in the US, you can buy Litecoin with ZERO fees at eToro.

Buy Litecoin With Credit Card or Debit Card

If you’ve been wondering how to buy Litecoin instantly, you can find a reputable trading platform that supports debit and credit card payments.

There are some potential fees to check out first:

• There is a 0.5% Instant Buy/Sell fee in place at crypto platform Binance. On top of this, debit/credit cards command a 4.5% charge
• At Coinbase, you will pay nearly 4% when you buy Litecoin with a debit or credit card

Over at eToro, all deposit methods are fee-free for US clients, so you can buy Litecoin with a credit card at no extra charge.

Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. 

Best Litecoin Wallet

If you have been looking at cryptocurrency exchanges when deciding where to buy Litecoin, you will need to carefully select a safe storage wallet and take full responsibility for your private keys.

Furthermore, watch out for unregulated spaces as they are high-risk environments to trade crypto assets. Moreover, there are no financial watchdogs watching over their operations.

Litecoin wallet options include:

• Software wallets – this includes web, mobile apps, and desktop
• Hardware wallets – a physical device that looks like a flash drive/USB and stores your private keys offline

One of the best crypto wallets for people looking to buy Litecoin is offered by eToro.

Even better, you have more than one option in this regard. The first is to buy Litecoin on eToro’s main trading platform. Upon completing your order, the Litecoin investment will be added to your portfolio for easy access.

Sticking with the eToro platform is great for people who want to learn how to buy Litecoin, but don’t want to download software or have the daunting task of securing a wallet.

‘You could of course download the eToro trading app if you want to buy Litecoin on the go. e Toro is approved to operate in the US, as well as by ASIC, the FCA, and CySEC.

You can also consider the eToro Litecoin wallet app. There are over 500 cryptocurrency pairs available to trade 24/7 and this storage solution has multiple high-level security measures in place to protect your investments from hackers.

The eToro wallet app is licensed by the GFSC.

How to Buy Litecoin – Tutorial

Ready to buy Litecoin with low commissions?

Below you will find a detailed tutorial on how to create an account at the top trading platform eToro to buy Litecoin. This usually only takes a matter of minutes to complete.

The broker is SEC-regulated and offers a transparent and user-friendly place to buy cryptocurrencies

Step 1: Open an eToro Crypto Account 

When you open eToro’s webpage you will see a button marked ‘Join Now‘. Select this to complete a registration form so you can buy Litecoin today.

You will be required to add a username, password, email, cell number, and full name.

eToro will send a code to your cell phone. You can verify your number by entering the code you’ve been sent when prompted.

Step 2: Upload ID

eToro operates within the guidelines of multiple regulators to ensure you get the best experience when you buy Litecoin. As such, the broker will prompt you to upload a photo ID – think along the lines of a passport or driver’s license.

To complete the KYC process, you can send eToro a document that proves the address given in the first stage of this walkthrough. If you don’t have a statement from your bank, you can attach a bill from a utility company, or another document accepted by eToro.

Step 3: Deposit Funds

This platform supports deposits as low as $10 and a range of payment types.

Accepted deposit methods include Rapid Transfers, bank wire, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, online banking, and debit and credit cards. Deposits made in US dollars will not attract a fee.

Step 4: Search for Litecoin

There are thousands of assets offered by eToro. To speed things up so you can place an order to buy Litecoin right now, type it into the search bar you see on the main dashboard.

As soon as you see it, take a shortcut to place your order by selecting ‘Trade’ once you’ve highlighted the correct market. This will reveal an online trading order form for you to fill in to buy Litecoin.

Step 5: Buy Litecoin

As we’ve mentioned, a benefit of opting to buy Litecoin at eToro is that the platform supports fractional crypto trading. As such, you can allocate just $10 if you want.

Here, we are risking just $20 on our Litecoin purchase. To complete your investment, enter $10 or more and select ‘Open Trade’.

How to Sell Litecoin

The beauty of choosing eToro to buy Litecoin rather than a cryptocurrency exchange is that it’s super easy to cash out.

This can be completed in a few simple steps, which we’ve outlined below:

• Start by entering your username and password to access your eToro trading account
• Look for the ‘Portfolio’ button and click that to reveal a full list of investments
• Next, find Litecoin in the list and select the button with a cog on it
• From the drop-down list of possible actions, select ‘Close’
• You’ll see a red cross symbol next to your Litecoin investment – select this to sell your tokens back to eToro

If you wish to hold onto some of the Litecoin tokens you’ve purchased, you can just close part of the trade. You will see an option for this after selecting ‘Close Trade’ and can tell eToro how much you want to sell.

You will find that the proceeds have been added to your available funds in your portfolio. Next, you can arrange a withdrawal or re-invest the proceeds elsewhere by going through the last two steps of the guide we offered on how to buy Litecoin.

Conclusion

For cryptocurrency investors who are ready to look outside the box, Litecoin remains an appealing alternative to the likes of Bitcoin. You can buy Litecoin at most crypto exchanges and online day trading platforms.

The safest way to buy Litecoin is at a US-approved brokerage. We found eToro to be the best place to buy LTC as its platform and crypto wallet are both regulated.

Because the broker supports fractional crypto investing – you can add Litecoin to your portfolio with just $10 if you wish. Not only that, but US investors pay no deposit fees – even on credit/debit cards.

Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. 

FAQs When Buying Litecoin