Litecoin (LTC) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH) are two of the most popular Bitcoin forks. A fork happens when developers change the original code of a blockchain to create a new version with different features. Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash were both designed to address some of Bitcoin’s issues, such as slow transaction times and comparatively high fees.
These two coins are often used for payments. If you are using CoinRemitter, it’s essential to understand how these coins work and which one is better if you accept payment in crypto. In this article, we will compare two of Bitcoin’s most popular forks, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash.
1. Transaction Speed
Fast transaction confirmations are crucial, especially for e-commerce businesses and service providers.
Litecoin (LTC)
- Generally, Litecoin blocks are confirmed every 2.5 minutes.
- This means payments are processed four times faster than Bitcoin.
- Faster blocks enable users to complete payments quickly and maintain a smooth network.
Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
- This Bitcoin fork has a block time of 10 minutes, the same as Bitcoin.
- However, BCH uses much larger blocks, which can hold more transactions.
- This helps reduce waiting time, especially when many people use the network at once.
Verdict: Litecoin gives fast confirmations, which is helpful for businesses that want quick payments. On the other hand, Bitcoin Cash transactions may take more time due to its larger block size. However, it holds more transactions in a single block. This maintains smooth transactions when the network is busy.
2. Transaction Fees
Transaction fees are the minimal costs paid to miners for processing payments. Lower fees mean more savings and higher profits for businesses.
Litecoin
- The Litecoin transaction fee on our crypto payment gateway is 0.01 LTC.
- This makes it an excellent choice for micro-payments or frequent small transactions.
- Litecoin is ideal to pay for tips, small online purchases, or digital services.
Bitcoin Cash
- The Bitcoin Cash transaction fee on our crypto payment processor is 0.01 BCH.
- Even during the busy network, BCH maintains its low fees due to large block sizes.
- This makes it suitable for large-volume transactions and retail purchases.
Verdict: Both currencies have lower fees, but Litecoin takes the edge in this regard. It has a lower USD value, resulting in cheaper transaction costs. This makes LTC ideal for small or fast payments. BCH may be a better choice for large-volume transactions.
3. Scalability and Network Load
Scalability means how well a network handles many users at the same time. This is particularly important for stores that process a high volume of payments.
Litecoin
- Litecoin blocks are smaller, but they are created every 2.5 minutes.
- Faster block time means transactions are spread out over time, allowing the network to avoid delays.
- It works well when there are many small payments.
Bitcoin Cash
- The block size of BCH goes up to 32 MB, which is larger than that of Litecoin.
- One BCH block can hold thousands of transactions.
- A large block size enables the network to handle a high volume of payments efficiently.
Verdict: Litecoin handles fast and small transactions perfectly. On the other hand, Bitcoin Cash is better for large-volume transactions for large-scale platforms.
4. Mining and Algorithms
Mining is the process of creating new coins and confirming transactions. Both LTC and BCH use different methods.
Litecoin
- Litecoin uses a system called Scrypt for mining, which requires more memory than Bitcoin’s system.
- People with simpler hardware could easily mine LTC in the past.
- Today, mining is more challenging, but it remains less controlled by large companies.
Bitcoin Cash
- Bitcoin Cash utilizes the SHA-256 algorithm, the same algorithm used by Bitcoin.
- This means miners can switch between BTC and BCH depending on rewards.
- BCH mining often depends on what is more profitable, which may result in unstable mining.
Verdict: Litecoin’s mining system is more balanced and was built for smaller miners. Bitcoin Cash shares mining power with Bitcoin, which may result in slower mining and confirmation times.
5. Community Focus and Main Goals
Both coins were created to fix problems with Bitcoin, but they focus on different things.
Litecoin
- Created in 2011 by Charlie Lee.
- Known as the “silver to Bitcoin’s gold”.
- Focuses on speed, low fees, and easy use.
- It often tests new features before they are adopted by Bitcoin.
- It added SegWit early and later added MimbleWimble for privacy.
Bitcoin Cash
- Created in 2017 during a debate about Bitcoin’s scaling.
- Focuses on being a “peer-to-peer digital cash” solution.
- Tries to offer the same daily-use benefits as real money.
- Promotes large block sizes and fast payments for everyone.
Verdict: Litecoin is built for fast, secure, and private payments. On the other hand, Bitcoin Cash focuses on becoming an actual digital currency for the global economy.
6. Total Supply and Coin Limit
Many cryptocurrencies may have a maximum supply. This means only a pre-defined number of coins can ever exist.
Litecoin
- Litecoin’s maximum supply is 84 million, which is four times the maximum supply of Bitcoin or Bitcoin Cash.
- The higher supply makes Litecoin more available and often cheaper per coin.
Bitcoin Cash
- Bitcoin Cash has the same supply limit as Bitcoin: 21 million coins.
- The lower supply can create scarcity and result in a higher value.
Verdict: Litecoin has a larger maximum supply, which makes it easier to spend and purchase. On the other hand, Bitcoin Cash has a lower total supply, which may keep its value higher.
Final Thoughts
Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash are two of the most trusted forks of Bitcoin. They were designed to address Bitcoin’s issues, and they do a great job at it.
- Litecoin is fast and has comparatively low fees.
- Bitcoin Cash handles big payments and network congestion well.
At CoinRemitter, you can accept both LTC and BCH through our simple and secure cryptocurrency payment gateway. Our easy crypto payment solutions help you get started quickly and grow your business with the advantages of cryptocurrency payments.