Litecoin surges 35% in a week amid revived payment activity and 2027 halving bets

Litecoin (LTC) jumped about 35% over the past week and roughly 41% in September, marking its strongest monthly performance since November 2024. The price broke above $74 for the first time since January, outperforming ETH, XRP and SOL. CoinDesk noted in its Sept. 24 market review that the exact driver remains unclear. Three narratives are cited: rising on-chain economic activity, with adjusted economic transaction volume exceeding $1 billion and over 17 million LTC in circulation; expectations for the 2027 halving—historically linked to price rebounds 6–12 months prior; and fresh inflows into LTC-denominated futures, with open interest hitting 8.96 million LTC, a January high. Analysts warn the rally reflects multiple overlapping narratives rather than a fundamental shift.