Disclaimer: The information presented does not constitute financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice and is solely the writer’s opinion.
Litecoin [LTC] has just broken a record in terms of network transactions. The Litecoin network highlighted this year’s impressive performance in terms of transactions, noting that even though the year is only eight months old, 2023 has already eclipsed last year’s record number of 39 million transactions.
The #Litecoin network just processed its 175 millionth transaction! Last year there were a record total of 39 million in the whole year. So far we’ve seen 46 million transactions in 2023 another new record! pic.twitter.com/U3B7G0v6Wj
— Litecoin Foundation ⚡️ (@LTCFoundation) August 23, 2023
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Glass half full
On 2 August, the third edition of Litecoin’s halving took place when the network reached a block height of 2,520,000, which reduced miners’ rewards from 12.5 LTC to 6.25 LTC.
LITECOIN HAS SUCCESSFULLY HALVED ITS BLOCK REWARD!
⚡ $LTC ⚡ pic.twitter.com/iemCnkPsdu
— Litecoin (@litecoin) August 2, 2023
Halving is a significant event programmed into certain cryptocurrency protocols, including Litecoin, that takes place at regular intervals. During this event, the block reward given to miners for validating transactions and securing the network is reduced by half.
The primary purpose of halving is to control the issuance rate of new coins and manage inflation within the cryptocurrency system.
The impact of halving is two-fold. First, it introduces an element of scarcity into the cryptocurrency ecosystem. With the reduced block rewards, the rate at which new coins are introduced into circulation decreases.
This creates a sense of scarcity among market participants, potentially leading to an increase in demand for cryptocurrency.
Secondly, halving affects the mining rewards for miners. As the block rewards are halved, miners receive fewer coins for their mining efforts. This can result in decreased mining profitability, especially for miners with higher operating costs.
Some miners may be compelled to leave the network if the costs of mining exceed the rewards, potentially leading to a temporary decline in the network’s hash rate and overall security.
Litecoin, as it completes its third halving since its inception in 2011, will experience a reduction in its supply rate. It will lead to fewer new Litecoins being mined. This scarcity factor could trigger increased demand and speculative activity in the cryptocurrency market.
Furthermore, miners will need to adjust to the reduced mining rewards, which may impact their profitability and mining operations.
ChatGPT makes a comparison
It is expected that the halving could help Litecoin gain more market share in the PoW sector. To make a comparison, I consulted ChatGPT to highlight the various differences of multiple PoW cryptocurrencies and their various advantages.
According to the AI bot, Litecoin’s emphasis on faster transactions and lower fees is likely to attract more users and investors. As transaction volumes increase, network activity for Litecoin could surge, enhancing its appeal as a quick and cost-effective digital currency.
However, Dogecoin’s inflationary nature stands in contrast to Litecoin’s scarcity induced by halving. While Dogecoin has strong community and viral appeal, concerns about dilution arising from its inflationary supply might favor Litecoin in the short term.
Meanwhile, users valuing privacy and anonymity are more likely to stick with Monero due to its unique privacy features. However, for those prioritizing speed and lower fees, Litecoin could serve as a practical alternative.
Regarding Ethereum Classic [ETC], its focus on immutability and code-as-law principles might attract a distinct audience compared to Litecoin’s user base. The short-term advantage for each cryptocurrency would depend on specific use cases and the preferences of users and investors during this period.
Source: ChatGPT
Does Litecoin have a competitive advantage?
Recent regulatory scrutiny against various cryptocurrencies has impacted various altcoins negatively. However, Litecoin was one of the few altcoins that was considered a commodity in the lawsuit filing against Binance [BNB].
On March 27, 2023, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission stated that $LTC is a “commodity.”
— Litecoin (@litecoin) July 21, 2023
After asking ChatGPT’s opinion on this development, it stated that the classification of Litecoin as a commodity by the CFTC could have several benefits. As a regulated commodity, Litecoin’s value shall skyrocket, and it will emerge as a shining star in the cosmic arena of cryptocurrencies.
The CFTC’s recognition may also lead to investment, innovation and adoption, supporting Litecoin’s growth.
Source: ChatGPT
Price tells a different story
Despite these factors, LTC’s price did not see much green at press time. It was trading at $64.42 at the time of writing.
Read Litecoin’s [LTC] Price Prediction 2023-2024
While both LTC’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) and Money Flow Index (MFI) rested above the neutral 50-mark, its On Balance Volume (OBV) reflected a positive metric.
Source: LTC/USD, TradingView
In conclusion, its on-chain metrics suggest that a possible bullish price action is around the corner.
