Litecoin (LTC), often referred to as the silver to Bitcoin's gold, continues to prove its longevity and reliability as of February 16, 2026. With 100% uptime throughout its history, Litecoin remains a favorite for transferring value between exchanges due to its speed and low cost. The network's privacy features, introduced via the MWEB upgrade, have seen increased usage, adding a layer of fungibility that appeals to privacy-conscious users without triggering massive regulatory backlash. Despite being one of the oldest altcoins, active address metrics show that LTC is still widely used for payments. From an investment perspective, LTC is often viewed as a cyclical asset. It is currently trading in a value zone that historically precedes significant rallies, particularly when Bitcoin dominance begins to wane. The mining ecosystem for Litecoin remains robust, often merged-mined with Dogecoin, which secures the network against attacks. While it may not feature the flashy smart contract innovations of newer chains, Litecoin's proposition as 'sound money' with a fair launch and widespread liquidity ensures it remains a staple in diversified crypto portfolios.