In the virtual-currency market Litecoin holds all the promises to become the second most popular.
- Miners don't need expensive ASIC's (yet). Every one with a PC and a good video-card can still mine Litecoins. (also those in third world countries).
- Miners hoard Bitcoins, but spend Litecoins much more easily.
- The large exchanges (Gox, BTCchina, Coinbase) have plans to join BTC-e (who already offers Litecoin trading). And if they do, the large Payment-processors like BitPay can offer Litecoins as well.
- Litecoin will be used as THE "arbitrage-transporter". Currently there are huge price difference for Bitcoins on all mutual exchanges, but once they offer another virtual-currency like Litecoins, it will be possible to move them quickly around arbitraging all exchange prices to one stable market price for Bitcoins.
- There are a lot more virtual-currencies offering the same points above, but Litecoin has by far the most market cap and first mover advantage.
It will take at least one year before Litecoin will be as popular as Bitcoin. And at that time it's price could be theoretical equal to 25% of Bitcoin's price (but 10% is more likely). If you understand that it is currently only 1.5%, it means that Litecoin has a huge upside potential.
I bought some Litecoins at $2 each... currently they are $11...In one year from now I hope to see $50.