IPv4 Market Outlook: Prices, Supply, and What to Expect
The IPv4 market today looks different from the steep rises of the early 2020s. Prices have steadied, large holders have sold or leased blocks, and cloud surcharges have reshaped how companies think about address space. Here’s what to expect: prices, supply, and how to position yourself whether you are buying or leasing.
Where the Market Stands
After years of record highs, the market is finding a floor. Recent data from brokers and RIR transfer stats suggest stabilization rather than another spike. That does not mean cheap—addresses remain scarce—but the panic of “get it before it doubles” has eased.
Supply is coming from a few sources. Large telcos and enterprises that held unused space have been returning blocks to the market. Private equity and investment funds have also entered, buying portfolios and leasing them out. On the demand side, cloud providers, AI data centers, and enterprises needing legacy compatibility keep the market active.
Prices: What to Expect
Regional differences matter more than a single number. ARIN (Americas), RIPE (Europe/Middle East/Central Asia), and APNIC (Asia-Pacific) move at different speeds. A /24 in one region can cost noticeably more or less than the same size block elsewhere.
Block size affects price per address too. Larger blocks (/20, /19) often trade at a discount per-address compared to /24s. Buyers and lessees should get current quotes for their region and size rather than relying on year-old benchmarks.
Cloud surcharges (AWS, Azure, GCP) have made bring-your-own-IP (BYOIP) more attractive. That has pushed some demand toward buying or leasing, especially for cost-sensitive workloads.
Supply and Demand
Supply comes from the secondary market. RIR free pools have been exhausted for years. New supply arrives when holders decide to sell or lease: telcos, enterprises, and funds that no longer need the space or prefer to monetize it.
Demand remains steady from cloud, AI infrastructure, hosting, VPN/proxy providers, and enterprises with legacy IPv4 requirements. AI data center build-out has added unexpected demand in some regions. Lease and rent continue to appeal to those who want flexibility; buy attracts those who want long-term control and asset ownership.
What Buyers and Lessees Should Do
If you need IPv4, start by defining your need: size, region, timeline, and any reputation or compliance requirements. For long-term use (5+ years), buying often makes sense. Our how to buy IPv4 guide walks through valuation, due diligence, and RIR transfer.
For 1–3 year needs without a large upfront commitment, leasing is a common path. Lease rates vary by region and block size; get current quotes from a broker or marketplace.
The market is calmer than in recent years but still active. Define your need, get current numbers, and choose buy or lease based on your timeline and budget.