Lit Protocol
Programmable key management runtime that runs JavaScript Lit Actions in a TEE and signs on any chain or API.
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Lit Protocol key facts
| Category | Developer infrastructure |
|---|---|
| Platforms | API, SDK, Web |
| Pricing | Prepaid credits; management calls and Lit Action execution $0.01 per second; packages from $5 (500 credits) to $50 |
| Free plan | All read-only dashboard and API operations are free |
| Token | LITKEY, payment token for Lit services; 25% credit discount; canonical on Base |
| Open source | Yes: API server, Lit Actions runtime, dashboard, contracts in public GitHub repos |
| US availability | Available: terms restrict only sanctioned jurisdictions |
LITKEY token
- Price
- $0.0021 +1.5% 24h
- Market cap
- $461,348
- Fully diluted value
- $2.1M
- 30-day change
- -39.8%
Market data: CoinGecko, updated Nov 10, 2026. Educational content, not financial advice.
What is Lit Protocol?
Lit Protocol is a programmable signing and key management network. Its current Chipotle stack runs Lit Actions (JavaScript) inside an Intel TDX trusted execution environment, with key permissions held in smart contracts on Base. Usage is billed from prepaid credits at $0.01 per second of execution, so a standard ECDSA signature costs about $0.01.
How Lit Protocol works
Lit's Chipotle stack has three layers.
A TEE enclave on Phala's dstack holds the root key, derives keys, checks permissions and runs Lit Actions in a sandbox. Authorization state sits in smart contracts on Base: an Account contract, an API Key Registry of key scopes, a PKP Registry of wallet derivation IDs, and Groups that bind PKPs to permitted action CIDs. Lit Actions themselves are immutable JavaScript files on IPFS, referenced by content ID and fetched by the enclave at run time.
An account runs in API mode, where a Lit-managed credential owns it and relays admin writes, or in ChainSecured mode, where your EOA or Safe owns it on-chain and signs every change. New releases need two separate actions: a Safe multisig on Base must whitelist the release's compose hash in the DstackApp contract, and CI must deploy it. An enclave that boots without the whitelist is refused keys by the on-chain KMS.
How to start with Lit Protocol
- Create an account in the Lit Dashboard; registration takes about 15 seconds because it writes to Base.
- Add funds (minimum $5) by card through Stripe, by crypto such as ETH, USDC or SOL, or with LITKEY.
- Then create a usage API key, request PKP wallets, register IPFS action CIDs, group them, and call the REST API under /core/v1/ with an X-Api-Key header.
- Metered calls on an unfunded account return 402 Payment Required.
Lit Protocol fees and limits
- Management writes and Lit Action execution both cost $0.01 per second, and management calls are billed as about 1 second even when block confirmation takes longer.
- Credit packages cost $5 for 500 credits, $10 for 1,000, $25 for 2,500 and $50 for 5,000, with no expiry.
- Paying in LITKEY on Base mainnet gives 25% off card pricing, and enterprise terms are available on request.
Read-only calls are free. Billing is tied to the wallet address derived from your account API key, which Lit uses as the Stripe customer ID; in ChainSecured mode a separate billing wallet is used. If you enter an email at signup, it is passed to Stripe for receipts. Card details go directly to Stripe and are never stored on Lit's servers.
Risks to know before using Lit Protocol
- The DstackApp and KMS contracts are owned by a Safe on Base that needs 2 of 4 signers, and all four keys are Lit-controlled.
- There is no timelock, so an approved release can receive keys as soon as the quorum executes it; Lit points teams that need a review window to self-hosting.
- Lit tells you to confirm the threshold and owners on-chain yourself rather than trust its documentation.
Lit Protocol alternatives
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Lit Protocol pros and cons
- Read-only API and dashboard calls are free; signatures cost about $0.01 each
- Paying in LITKEY gives a 25% discount on credits
- Chipotle stack is open source and can be self-hosted
- Current keys are protected by TEE hardware, so security depends on Intel TDX hardware and firmware
- Minimum credit top-up is $5 and all usage is prepaid
- Protocol upgrades are approved through a Safe multisig, not by token holders
Lit Protocol FAQ
What is Lit Protocol?
Lit Protocol is a programmable signing and key management network. Its current Chipotle stack runs Lit Actions (JavaScript) inside an Intel TDX trusted execution environment, with key permissions held in smart contracts on Base. Usage is billed from prepaid credits at $0.01 per second of execution, so a standard ECDSA signature costs about $0.01.
How much does Lit Protocol cost?
Prepaid credits; management calls and Lit Action execution $0.01 per second; packages from $5 (500 credits) to $50, according to Lit Protocol’s own page (checked Sep 26, 2026). Free plan: All read-only dashboard and API operations are free.
Does Lit Protocol have a token?
Yes, LITKEY. Its market cap was $461,348 on CoinGecko on Nov 10, 2026. Educational content, not financial advice.
Is Lit Protocol available in the US?
Available: terms restrict only sanctioned jurisdictions, according to Lit Protocol’s own page (checked Sep 26, 2026).
Does Lit Protocol hold my funds?
No. Lit Protocol is non-custodial: you keep your funds in your own wallet and sign each transaction.
Sources
How this page works
Sources: Lit Protocol: official site, Lit Protocol: Pricing, Lit Protocol: LITKEY. Data as of Sep 26, 2026.
Not affiliated with any project listed. Educational content, not financial advice.