As the world’s supply of IPv4 addresses continues to shrink, the secondary market for IPv4 space has evolved into a major global industry. Today, organizations buy, sell, and lease IPv4 blocks just like valuable digital assets. This process, known as IPv4 trading, helps businesses secure the address space they need while allowing holders of unused IP ranges to profit from increasingly scarce resources.
But how does IPv4 trading actually work? Who participates in the market, how are prices set, and what ensures transactions are secure? This guide breaks down everything you need to know about how the global IPv4 market operates in 2025.
Why IPv4 Trading Exists
All five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs)—ARIN, RIPE NCC, APNIC, LACNIC, and AFRINIC—have exhausted their pools of available IPv4 addresses. This exhaustion created a permanent supply imbalance:
- High demand from cloud providers, hosting companies, ISPs, VPN services, SaaS platforms, and enterprises.
- Low supply because no new IPv4 addresses are being created.
With tens of thousands of companies dependent on IPv4 for daily operations, the only source of new address space is the existing pool—owned by organizations that received IPv4 decades ago or purchased them from the secondary market.
This scarcity gave rise to the IPv4 trading ecosystem, where IPs are bought, sold, and leased under regulated transfer policies.
Who Participates in the IPv4 Market?
The IPv4 trading ecosystem includes several major players:
1. Buyers
Organizations that need IPv4 space for:
- Data centers
- Hosting services
- Cloud applications
- VPN and security platforms
- Email infrastructure
- International expansion
2. Sellers
Companies that:
- Hold unused legacy IPv4 blocks
- Downsized their networks
- Migrated partially to IPv6
- Consolidated redundant address space
3. IPv4 Brokers
Trusted intermediaries, like IPv4 Hub, that ensure:
- Safe buyer–seller matchmaking
- Verification of ownership
- Reputation and blacklist checks
- Secure escrow transactions
- RIR-compliant transfers
4. Regional Internet Registries (RIRs)
These organizations validate and approve IPv4 transfers. They include:
- ARIN (North America)
- RIPE (Europe)
- APNIC (Asia Pacific)
- LACNIC (Latin America)
- AFRINIC (Africa)
Each RIR has its own rules governing IPv4 trading.
How IPv4 Trading Works Step-by-Step
IPv4 trading follows a structured and regulated process to ensure legitimacy and security.
Step 1: Identifying IPv4 Blocks for Sale or Purchase
Buyers determine the size they need:
- /24 (256 IPs)
- /23 (512 IPs)
- /22 (1,024 IPs)
- Larger blocks like /21 or /20 for enterprise networks
Sellers determine what portion of their space they want to sell.
Step 2: Verification and Reputation Screening
A trusted broker checks each block for:
- Accurate RIR ownership
- WHOIS consistency
- Clean blacklist history
- No spam or malware associations
- Proper routing status
Clean IP space is essential for reliable business use.
Step 3: Price Setting and Negotiation
IPv4 prices fluctuate based on:
- Block size
- Region
- Cleanliness
- Market supply/demand
- Transfer urgency
As of 2025, prices typically range $40–$60 per IP, though large clean blocks can command premiums.
Step 4: Secure Escrow-Based Payment Arrangement
Escrow protects both sides:
- Buyer’s funds are safely held
- Seller receives payment only after transfer approval
- Eliminates fraud and non-payment risk
This is a critical part of safe IPv4 trading.
Step 5: RIR Transfer Processing
The transfer is submitted to the relevant RIR. This step includes:
- Ownership verification
- Document submission
- Buyer justification (required by ARIN)
- Inter-RIR coordination for cross-region transfers
- WHOIS record updates
RIR approval legally completes the IPv4 trade.
Step 6: Post-Transfer Validation
After approval:
- Buyer confirms routing
- Cleanliness is re-checked
- Payments are released from escrow
- Seller’s records are updated
- New ownership becomes official
The IPv4 block is then ready for deployment.
Why IPv4 Trading Is Highly Regulated
To protect the integrity of the internet, RIRs enforce specific rules:
- Only legitimate holders can sell
- Buyers must provide justification
- Transfers must be documented
- IP addresses must remain globally routable
- Fraud prevention is prioritized
These policies ensure IPv4 trades are safe, secure, and legally binding.
Why Work With an IPv4 Broker Like IPv4 Hub?
IPv4 trading is technical, regulated, and high-value. IPv4 Hub simplifies the entire process by offering:
- Verified, clean IPv4 inventory
- Full RIR transfer handling
- Escrow-secured payments
- Ownership and documentation checks
- Market-based pricing guidance
- Expert support from start to finish
This dramatically reduces risk for both buyers and sellers.
IPv4 Trading Is the Backbone of Today’s Internet Growth
Because IPv4 supply is permanently limited, the global IPv4 trading market has become essential for supporting internet growth, cloud expansion, and digital transformation. Understanding how the market works—and using a trusted broker—ensures safe and efficient participation.
Whether you’re buying IPv4 to scale your infrastructure or selling unused ranges for profit, IPv4 Hub provides the expertise, security, and guidance needed to navigate the global IPv4 market with confidence.