The $50 Milestone: A History of IPv4 Price Growth
Lukas Brandt
February 17, 2021In 2021, IPv4 prices crossed $50 per address in some regions and block sizes—a milestone that illustrated how far the market had come since RIR pools began exhausting in 2011. This post examines the $50 milestone in context and what drives IPv4 pricing over time.
The $50 Milestone in Context
Per-address pricing has followed a predictable trajectory since RIR exhaustion:
| Period | Approximate price (per IP) | Key Drivers |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-2011 | Near zero (RIR allocation) | Free pools available |
| 2011-2015 | $5–15 | First exhaustions, market forming |
| 2016-2019 | $15–30 | Market maturation, growing demand |
| 2020-2021 | $30–50+ | Remote work surge, cloud growth; $50 was a peak, not a floor |
| 2022-2024 | Wide by size and RIR | Scarcity held; large-block discounts appeared |
| 2025 | Correction; large blocks fell hardest | /16+ well below the 2021 peak |
| 2026 (Q3) | ~$20 volume-weighted average | /24s higher; /16+ about $13–22 and recovering |
Crossing $50 per address in some markets in 2021 was a peak in a long scarcity cycle, not a new permanent price. Not every block or region reached that level then, and most do not trade there now. Price has always varied by RIR (ARIN, RIPE, APNIC, LACNIC, AFRINIC), prefix size (/24 vs /16+), and block reputation. A single “market price” hides that spread.
What Drives IPv4 Prices
Fixed supply. No new IPv4 is created. The 4.3 billion total addresses are all that will ever exist. Transfers and usage agreements move existing space between organizations; they don’t create new addresses.
Growing demand. Despite IPv6 availability, IPv4 demand persists. Cloud providers, hosting companies, VPN and proxy services, and enterprise networks continue to need IPv4 for compatibility with legacy systems and networks that haven’t transitioned.
Market liquidity. The secondary market has matured significantly. More organizations buy, sell, lease, and rent through established marketplaces and brokers. Price transparency has improved, and transactions complete faster than in earlier years.
Regional variation. Prices differ by RIR region based on local supply, demand, and transfer policies. ARIN and RIPE regions have historically commanded higher prices than LACNIC or AFRINIC regions, though this gap has narrowed.
For a comparison of acquisition options, see IPv4 Leasing vs Buying.
Lessons for Buyers
The $50 milestone offered several lessons that remain relevant:
Prices reflect fundamentals, not a one-way line. The run-up to $50 was scarcity meeting demand; the later correction showed the same market can reprice when large holders sell. Plan on current quotes for your size and region, not on a 2021 headline.
Block size matters. Larger blocks (/16, /17) typically have lower per-address costs than smaller blocks (/24). If you need significant address space, larger blocks may offer better economics.
Region and reputation affect price. Clean blocks with good reputation in high-demand regions command premiums. Blocks with past abuse history or in regions with surplus supply may cost less.
Buy vs lease is a financial decision. At any price point, the choice between buying and leasing depends on your timeline and cash flow preferences. Our buying IPv4 guide covers the purchase process; see IPv4 Leasing vs Buying for comparison.
Current Market (2026)
Treat the $50 figure as history. As of Q3 2026 the volume-weighted average across completed transfers is about $20 per IP—large /16+ deals pull that average down. Smaller blocks cost more per address:
- /24: marketplace averages in the mid-$20s; broker quotes for clean RIPE/ARIN space often sit higher
- /16 and larger: roughly $13–22/IP, the segment that corrected hardest after 2021–22 and is recovering from 2025 lows
- Lease: typically $0.30–0.59/IP/month (APNIC often $0.60+). Buy-vs-lease breakeven depends on block size, not on a single headline price
For a quote on your size and RIR, use how to buy IPv4 or compare paths in IPv4 Leasing vs Buying. Also factor in reputation, due diligence, and transfer time.
The $50 milestone still matters as a lesson: prices follow scarcity and demand, they are not a one-way line, and the number that matters is the one for your prefix size and region.