ASN for Sale: Buy Short, Custom & Cheap AS Numbers Guide

The market for ASN for sale (Autonomous System Numbers) has grown significantly in recent years. More businesses, ISPs, content providers, cloud services, and even hobbyists are seeking greater control over internet routing. An ASN is a unique identifier assigned to an Autonomous System (AS)—a collection of IP networks and routers under single administrative control with a unified routing policy. These numbers are essential for using BGP (Border Gateway Protocol), the core routing protocol of the internet.This complete guide covers everything you need to know about “ASN for sale,” including what they are, why people buy them, how the market works, the process of acquiring one (new or transferred), costs, risks, and more. We’ll address the key W questions (Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How) and conclude with an extensive Q&A section focused on buying custom and short ASN numbers (e.g., low-digit or “premium” ones like 4-digit or 5-digit ASNs).

What Is an ASN?

Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs) are assigned by Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) such as ARIN (North America), RIPE NCC (Europe, Middle East, parts of Central Asia), APNIC (Asia-Pacific), LACNIC (Latin America), and AFRINIC (Africa). ASNs come in two main formats:

• 2-byte ASNs (older format, range up to 65,535) — Many are legacy allocations and considered “short” or premium due to their scarcity.
• 4-byte ASNs (extended range, starting from 65,536) — The current standard, with millions still available.

ASNs enable BGP peering, multi-homing (connecting to multiple ISPs for redundancy), traffic engineering, and independent routing decisions. Without your own ASN, networks typically rely on upstream providers’ ASNs, which limits flexibility and control.

Why Buy an ASN?

(Benefits and Use Cases)Organizations and individuals purchase ASNs for several strategic advantages:

• Multi-homing and redundancy — Connect to multiple transit providers without renumbering IPs or dealing with provider-specific policies.
• Better peering opportunities — Establish direct interconnections at internet exchanges (IXPs) like AMS-IX or DE-CIX, reducing latency and transit costs.
• Traffic control and optimization — Announce your own prefixes via BGP for precise routing, load balancing, and failover.
• ISP independence — Avoid vendor lock-in and switch providers seamlessly.
• IPv6 deployment — Often acquired alongside IPv6 allocations for future-proofing.
• Business prestige or branding — Owning an ASN signals a mature, professional network (common among CDNs, cloud providers, and large enterprises).
• Hobbyist or homelab experimentation — Enthusiasts build private networks, tunnels, or BGP labs for learning and fun.

In essence, an ASN provides routing autonomy, which is invaluable for reliability, performance, and cost savings in large-scale or mission-critical environments.Who Buys ASNs?

• ISPs and telecom providers — Primary users for managing customer traffic.
• Cloud and hosting companies — For multi-region redundancy.
• Content delivery networks (CDNs) and large enterprises.
• Data centers and colocation providers.
• Individuals and hobbyists — Via sponsored or low-cost options for homelabs.
• Investors/speculators — Particularly interested in short/low-number ASNs, which can appreciate in value similar to rare domain names.

How Much Do ASNs Cost?

(The ASN for Sale Market)Unlike IPv4 addresses, there is no highly formalized public retail marketplace for ASNs, but transfers occur through RIR-approved processes or private brokers.

• New ASN registration — Often free or low-cost directly from RIRs (justification required), but typically needs LIR membership or sponsorship. Sponsored options from providers like IPXO, Voldeta, or Lagrange cost roughly €100–€500 one-time, plus annual fees of €150–€300.
• Transferred/legacy ASNs — Sold privately or via brokers. Short ASNs (e.g., 4-digit) are rare and command high prices, often $15,000–$50,000+ based on historical auction data and market trends (e.g., occasional listings bundled with IPv4 on platforms like IPv4.Global).
• Budget options — Sponsored 4-byte ASNs can be set up for under $1,000 total, making them ideal for beginners or small projects.

The ASN market remains smaller and less liquid than the IPv4 market but continues to grow with IPv6 adoption and increasing multi-homing demand. Premium short ASN prices vary by RIR region (ARIN tends to be higher than RIPE or APNIC).Where to Acquire an ASN

• Direct from RIRs — Submit justification (e.g., multi-homing evidence) via ARIN, RIPE, etc.
• Sponsored ASN services — Providers like IPXO (with fast acquisition in days), Voldeta, or Lagrange handle registration and sponsorship.
• Transfer market — Follow RIR transfer policies (ARIN, RIPE, APNIC support intra- and inter-RIR transfers). Brokers or auction platforms occasionally list ASNs, sometimes bundled with IPv4 blocks.
• Marketplaces and forums — IPv4-focused sites like IPv4.Global may feature related listings; private sales often occur via forums such as LowEndTalk.

When to Get an ASN

• When you require BGP control or multi-homing.
• During network expansion or when switching ISPs.
• For IPv6-only or hybrid deployments.
• If current routing issues (e.g., upstream flaps) impact your operations.
• Hobbyists: Anytime for experimentation and learning.

Avoid it if a single upstream provider meets your needs—it’s unnecessary overhead for small or simple setups.How to Buy or Acquire an ASN

1. Assess your needs — Provide justification like multi-homing or unique routing policy (RIR requirement).
2. Choose region/provider — RIPE is often easiest and most affordable for Europeans or global sponsored users.
3. Apply/register — Through an LIR/sponsor or directly with the RIR.
4. For transfers — Locate a seller, negotiate terms, and submit to the RIR with justification.
5. Configure — Announce routes via BGP peers once approved.

Transfers involve RIR approval, contracts, and potential fees, taking weeks to months.Risks and Considerations

• Justification scrutiny — RIRs may reject non-legitimate requests.
• Ongoing costs — Annual maintenance, peering fees, hardware, and transit.
• Scams — Always verify ownership via official RIR WHOIS databases.
• Legacy vs. modern ASNs — Short/legacy ones may carry additional restrictions or compatibility quirks.

Questions & Answers (Q&A): Buying Custom and Short ASN Numbers

Q: What makes an ASN “short” or “custom”?
A: Short ASNs are low-numbered (e.g., 1–4 digits, under 10,000). Custom refers to specific/desired numbers (e.g., vanity digits related to a company). These are primarily legacy 2-byte ASNs, scarcer due to exhaustion.

Q: Can you buy a specific short ASN number?
A: Rarely directly. Most are held by legacy owners. Acquisition happens via private transfer if the holder sells. Auctions occasionally feature them (e.g., 4-digit in APNIC/ARIN regions at $20,000+).

Q: How much do short ASNs cost in 2025–2026?
A: 4-digit ASNs: $15,000–$50,000+ depending on region and desirability. 5-digit: Often $5,000–$15,000. New 4-byte ASNs aren’t “short” but remain affordable (~$500–$2,000 sponsored).

Q: Is there a dedicated marketplace for ASNs like IPv4 auctions?
A: Not as structured. Platforms like IPv4.Global sometimes bundle ASNs or list related items. Most transactions are private or broker-facilitated. Check RIR transfer records or forums like LowEndTalk.

Q: Can individuals buy short ASNs for homelabs?
A: Yes, but expensive and challenging to justify for transfers. Most hobbyists opt for sponsored 4-byte ASNs (under $1,000 via providers like Lagrange or RIPE sponsors).

Q: What are the steps to transfer a short ASN?
A: 1. Find a seller (brokers/forums). 2. Agree on price/terms. 3. Seller initiates RIR transfer. 4. Buyer provides justification (e.g., multi-homing proof). 5. RIR approves (weeks–months). Inter-RIR transfers possible between ARIN, RIPE, APNIC.

Q: Are there restrictions on short ASN transfers?
A: Policies vary: RIPE allows flexible intra-region transfers; ARIN/APNIC support inter-RIR. Legacy ASNs may require extra justification. No open resale market like domains.

Q: Why pay a premium for short/custom ASNs?
A: Prestige, easier compatibility with older systems (preferring 2-byte), branding appeal (low numbers look “elite”), and potential future resale value.

Q: Can I get a vanity ASN (e.g., digits matching my company name)?
A: Unlikely for short numbers unless a legacy holder sells. New allocations are sequential and high.

Q: What if I just want BGP without a short ASN?
A: Sponsored ASN services are fast (days), inexpensive, and fully functional for peering/multi-homing.

Q: Are ASNs good investments like IPv4?
A: Short ones have potential due to scarcity, but the market is tiny and illiquid compared to IPv4. Long-term holding is possible but carries risk.

Q: Any alternatives to buying?
A: Sponsored ASNs, private-use ASNs (64512–65534 for internal), or relying on provider ASNs.In conclusion, the “ASN for sale” landscape offers options ranging from affordable sponsored setups to premium short-number transfers. For most users, sponsored registration delivers excellent value without the high cost of rare numbers. Always use official RIR channels or reputable sponsors to avoid issues. Whether for business routing control or hobbyist experimentation, owning an ASN unlocks true internet independence.

For those interested in a premium 2-byte ASN in the desirable AS4xxxx range (a short, legacy-style number under 50,000), explore this verified RIPE-registered option on IPv4Hub. It’s fully transferable across major RIRs including ARIN, APNIC, RIPE, or LACNIC, and ideal for achieving BGP control, multi-homing, network independence, and optimized routing. View the AS4xxxx ASN listing here for more details.