How to Compare IPv4 Purchase Offers From Different Brokers: Price, Block History, Escrow and Transfer Support
Lukas Brandt
October 20, 2026
Two IPv4 purchase offers can quote the same prefix size while carrying very different financial and operational risks. Before companies buy IPv4 addresses, they should compare the total transaction price, block history, escrow structure, transfer eligibility, and the level of support provided through RIR approval.
An IPv4 purchase offer comparison is a structured evaluation of competing broker proposals based on price, address-block history, escrow protection, due diligence, and transfer support. It helps buyers compare the complete transaction rather than choosing an offer only because it has the lowest advertised price per IPv4 address.
What should a broker offer comparison include?
A useful broker offer comparison starts by putting every proposal into the same format. Brokers may present pricing and services differently, so the buyer should separate the address value from transaction services and additional charges.
Compare:
- prefix size and number of addresses;
- total purchase price and price per IP;
- broker and transaction fees;
- escrow arrangement;
- RIR and registration status;
- block reputation and previous use;
- due diligence included in the offer;
- transfer coordination and post-transfer support.
A broker that quotes only the block price gives the buyer less information than one that identifies the transfer path, payment process, and responsibilities of each party.
How should broker prices be compared?
A broker price comparison should use the total amount required to complete the acquisition, not only the headline price per address.
The basic calculation is:
Total acquisition cost = block price + broker fees + escrow fees + RIR charges + other transaction costs
One offer may have a lower per-IP rate but charge separately for escrow or transfer assistance. Another may bundle those services into its quote. Buyers should ask whether taxes, currency conversion, banking charges, and registry fees are included.
The comparison table can therefore look like this:
| Offer element | Broker A | Broker B | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per IP | Quoted rate | Quoted rate | Same currency and block size |
| Broker fee | Included/separate | Included/separate | Who pays it |
| Escrow | Provider and fee | Provider and fee | Release conditions |
| Due diligence | Scope stated | Scope stated | Registry and history checks |
| Transfer support | Included | Included/extra | Support through RIR completion |
This format makes hidden differences easier to identify.
Why is block history review important?
A block history review checks whether the address space has technical or administrative issues that could affect its use after purchase.
Buyers should examine:
- current RIR registration;
- seller’s authority to transfer the block;
- transfer restrictions;
- routing history;
- blocklist and reputation records;
- geolocation records;
- previous abuse indicators;
- existing route or operational dependencies.
IPv4 transfer due diligence should also confirm that the seller is the registered holder and that the range is eligible for transfer. A broker’s failure to identify a policy restriction before signing can delay or prevent closing.
IPv4 resources in the RIPE NCC service region are generally subject to a 24-month transfer restriction after receipt through allocation, transfer, or certain organizational changes. This is the type of issue that should be identified during offer due diligence, not after funds have been committed.
How should escrow options be compared?
An escrow comparison should focus on who controls the funds, when money is released, and what happens if the RIR transfer does not complete.
The buyer should confirm:
- which escrow provider will be used;
- who pays the escrow fee;
- when the buyer must fund the account;
- what evidence triggers payment release;
- how a rejected or cancelled transfer is handled.
A common transaction structure places the buyer’s payment into escrow before the seller begins the RIR transfer. Funds are then released after the registry confirms that the address space has moved to the buyer.
Escrow therefore protects the payment process, but it does not replace technical or legal due diligence.
What should transfer support include?
A transfer support comparison measures how much assistance each broker provides between acceptance of the offer and registry completion.
The broker offer checklist should identify who will:
- verify RIR transfer eligibility;
- coordinate documentation with the seller;
- help prepare the transfer request;
- monitor RIR questions;
- coordinate escrow milestones;
- confirm the registry update;
- support routing and record updates after closing.
RIR procedures vary. In an ARIN 8.3 transfer, for example, both the source and recipient organizations submit their own requests, and ARIN links the two cases after review. ARIN’s minimum transfer size for this process is /24.
A broker should therefore explain the relevant transfer path rather than describe every transaction as identical.
How can buyers evaluate broker due diligence?
A strong broker offer evaluation separates broker statements from independently verifiable information.
Ask for the exact prefix before final approval and check registry data, transfer eligibility, reputation, and routing history. Buyers should also understand what the broker has verified and what remains their responsibility.
If the other party plans to sell IPv4 addresses, clear ownership records and a clean transfer path matter to both sides. A transaction can move efficiently only when the seller is authorized to transfer the resources and the buyer satisfies the relevant RIR requirements.
How can you compare IPv4 purchase offers more reliably?
Put every broker proposal into the same evidence table, then send any unresolved points to IPv4 Online for verification. Exact prefix, seller authority, block history, escrow conditions, RIR path, and included services should all be clear before the offer moves forward.
Use the same due-diligence and transfer criteria when the comparison needs more than a price check, so differences in block quality, documentation, and closing support remain visible.