Litecoin Creator Charlie Lee Shares Vision for LTC as Crypto Enters Its Next Era

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  • Litecoin persists through fair launch, no premine, decentralization, and steady real payment usage.
  • Lee supports treasury strategy and ETF access while anticipating most cryptos will disappear by 2035.

Charlie Lee, the creator of Litecoin, recently shared his views on the future of his cryptocurrency during a detailed interview on the Thinking Crypto podcast. Speaking with host Tony Edward, Lee reflected on why Litecoin, created in 2011, remains active while many altcoins have faded.

Lee stated that Litecoin survived because of its fair launch, absence of a premine, and similarity to Bitcoin’s structure. “It’s just good money… People use it for payments, low fees, fast transactions,” he said. These features have contributed to what he called its “staying power.” He added that decentralization plays a major role in Litecoin’s resilience.

Lee pointed to MWEB (MimbleWimble Extension Blocks) as a major update that improved Litecoin’s usefulness. MWEB prevents the display of transaction values, thereby treating all coins equally. This resolves the issue of different coins being considered differently based on their transaction records. Lee said, 

“There’s no reason when you’re sending money that the whole world can see how much you’re sending.”

Litecoin’s Applications Outside Fast Payments

Litecoin was designed to serve as “silver to Bitcoin’s gold”. With its limited supply, proof-of-work system, and faster block times, it is a functional cryptocurrency. 

Litecoin also supported a Lightning Network transaction before Bitcoin did. This became possible after Litecoin activated SegWit, which improved compatibility with second-layer solutions. Although Lightning isn’t widely used on Litecoin due to its already low fees.

Lee also spoke about his involvement in Light Strategy, which changed its focus from health care to managing LTC-based treasuries. Backed by a $100 million investment, the firm manages LTC holdings and seeks ways to generate revenue through methods like options strategies and buybacks.

He also supports the LTCC ETF launched by Canary Capital, where he was a seed investor. “I provided the first million dollars worth of capital into the ETF when it launched,” Lee said. The ETF gives mainstream investors exposure to LTC without needing to handle wallets or exchanges. According to Lee, such products simplify access for institutional players, including pensions and endowments.

Only Strong Crypto Projects Will Survive by 2035

Looking ahead, Lee forecasted that truly useful crypto projects will survive by 2035. He expects that most tokens will vanish, similar to how early internet companies failed while a few like Google and Amazon grew. He said,

“If there are people running nodes, people using it, the project would survive.”

Although not in direct talks with governments, Lee supports the idea of nations buying LTC as part of digital reserves. He compared Litecoin’s decentralization to gold, noting that no one needs permission to acquire it.

He also addressed market volatility. “If someone tells you they know the future, they’re making stuff up,” he said. Still, he remains bullish, projecting a Bitcoin peak of $150,000 in the current cycle and suggesting that more stability will come as adoption increases.

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