Contents
Introduction
Litecoin (LTC) has been a staple of the cryptocurrency world since 2011, often dubbed “the silver to Bitcoin’s gold.” Using the Scrypt algorithm, Litecoin remains one of the few major Proof-of-Work (PoW) cryptocurrencies that can still be mined profitably with specialized hardware. But with the 2023 halving behind us and a highly competitive environment, the big question is: Is Litecoin Mining in 2025 Still Profitable?
This article explores the current state of LTC mining, what hardware you’ll need, the challenges and opportunities in today’s environment, and whether it’s still worth the effort.
The State of Litecoin Mining in 2025
Litecoin remains a Scrypt-based Proof-of-Work coin, mined exclusively with ASICs. CPU and GPU mining are obsolete, only machines like the Antminer L9 or ElphaPex DG series are competitive today. Over 75 million LTC have already been mined, leaving under 9 million coins before the 84 million cap is reached. The current block reward is 6.25 LTC, reduced after the 2023 halving. That makes efficiency more important than ever.
Litecoin mining is only profitable because of merge-mining with Dogecoin. Every LTC block also generates DOGE rewards, which today are much more valuable than LTC rewards. Without this dual payout, even ASICs would not be profitable at standard power rates. Modern machines like the DG Hydro 1 and L9 17.6Gh deliver high hashrates, but energy costs remain the biggest challenge. Profitability now hinges on access to cheap electricity and the combined market strength of both LTC and DOGE.
Profitability Factors for Litecoin Mining
1. Hardware Selection
Litecoin mining in 2025 is fully dominated by Scrypt ASIC miners. GPUs are no longer a viable option, even top-tier models like the RTX 4090 or RX 7900 XTX can’t compete with modern ASICs on efficiency or hashrate. Some of the most relevant ASICs currently on the market include:
- Antminer L9 :Bitmain’s top-tier Scrypt miner, offering the best balance between performance and power draw.
- ElphaPex DG Hydro 1: A new high-performance machine, powerful but energy-intensive.
- Antminer L7: Still widely used, though increasingly pushed out by newer models.
All of these miners benefit from Litecoin’s merged mining with Dogecoin, which is necessary to obtain any profitability. Choosing the right hardware now depends more than ever on electricity pricing, access to hosting, and hardware availability, as profit margins have become thinner after the most recent halving.
2. Electricity Costs
Electricity is the largest ongoing expense for any miner. In locations where energy costs exceed $0.10 per kWh, profitability becomes difficult, especially with older machines. If your rates are closer to $0.05/kWh or lower, you’re in a much stronger position.
Using mining profitability calculators like WhatToMine or LitecoinPool.org’s calculator can help you gauge expected earnings and ROI based on your setup.
3. Mining Pools
Solo mining Litecoin is not effective today due to the high difficulty and strong competition. Instead, miners join pools like:
- ProHashing: Automatically mines the most profitable Scrypt coins and pays out in your preferred asset.
- NiceHash: Lets you mine Litecoin and get paid in Bitcoin.
- LitecoinPool.org: A veteran pool focused purely on LTC.
These services smooth out rewards and reduce the luck factor, though they do take a small fee.
Challenges and Risks for LTC Miners
While Litecoin mining remains viable, it’s not without challenges:
- Reward Reductions – Block rewards halve roughly every four years, cutting income unless LTC prices rise.
- ASIC Dominance – ASICs come with significant upfront investment and risk of hardware obsolescence.
- Market Volatility – Like all cryptocurrencies, LTC’s price is highly volatile, which directly impacts mining profitability.
Nonetheless, many miners see Litecoin as a long-term bet, holding their rewards in anticipation of future bull markets.
Conclusion
Litecoin mining in 2025 can still be profitable, but only with the right combination of hardware, and electricity rates. Those with older machines and high electricity costs may struggle, but efficient setups can continue to generate steady returns. With under 10 million coins left to be mined, the opportunity may not last forever.