Buy and Sell IPv4 Addresses Securely with IPv4 Depot

Welcome to the IPv4 Depot Buying Guide. As the global supply of IPv4 addresses has officially been exhausted by the Regional Internet Registries (RIRs), the secondary market has become the only reliable source for acquiring the address space necessary to run modern networks. IPv4 Depot acts as a specialized brokerage and leasing firm, bridging the gap between organizations with surplus IP assets and those facing "IP exhaustion."

This guide is designed to help IT directors, network architects, and procurement officers navigate the complexities of IPv4 acquisition. You will learn about the different procurement models—buying vs. leasing—the regulatory requirements of RIRs like ARIN and RIPE, and how to ensure the IP space you acquire is "clean" and ready for use. Whether you are scaling a data center or looking to monetize stagnant assets, this guide provides the technical and financial framework for a successful transaction.

IPv4 Depot provides a comprehensive suite of services designed to simplify the IP secondary market:

• IPv4 Brokerage: Facilitating the permanent transfer of ownership for IP blocks ranging from /24 (256 IPs) to /16 (65,536 IPs) and larger.
• IP Leasing Programs: Short-term and long-term leasing options for companies that need space immediately without the high upfront cost of a full purchase.
• Blacklist Monitoring & Cleaning: Rigorous vetting of all IP blocks to ensure they are not flagged by Spamhaus, Barracuda, or other major blacklists before transfer.
• Escrow Management: Use of secure, third-party escrow services to ensure funds are only released once the RIR confirms the transfer of the IP space.
• RIR Navigation: Expert handling of the bureaucratic requirements of ARIN, RIPE, APNIC, and LACNIC to ensure compliance and fast approval.
• Monetization Consulting: Helping companies identify unused subnets within their network and bringing them to market for significant ROI.

• Cloud Service Provider (CSP) Expansion: A regional CSP exhausts their /20 block. IPv4 Depot sources a clean /18 block from a legacy manufacturer, allowing the CSP to launch 16,000 new virtual private servers.
• Legacy Asset Liquidation: A university discovers they own a /16 block from the 1990s that is only 10% utilized. IPv4 Depot brokers the sale of the block to a telecom company, generating millions in non-dilutive funding for the university.
• Marketing Agency Leasing: A digital agency needs 1,000 IPs for a 6-month data mining project. Instead of spending $50k+ on a purchase, they lease a /22 block through IPv4 Depot for a manageable monthly fee.
• IPv6 Transition Buffer: An enterprise is moving to IPv6 but needs three more years of IPv4 stability. They acquire a /24 block via IPv4 Depot to "bridge the gap" during the dual-stack phase of their migration.

Pricing in the IPv4 market is highly volatile and driven by global supply and demand. IPv4 Depot utilizes three primary models:

1. Purchase (Price per IP): Currently ranging from $35 to $60+ per IP address depending on the block size and RIR. Smaller blocks (/24) often carry a higher price-per-IP than large blocks (/16).
2. Leasing (Monthly/Annual): A recurring fee model, typically costing a fraction of the purchase price. This is ideal for OpEx-funded projects.
3. Brokerage Commission: For sellers, IPv4 Depot typically takes a percentage of the final sale price as a service fee for finding a buyer and managing the transfer.

• Additional Costs: Buyers must also account for annual RIR membership fees and potential escrow service fees.

To utilize the assets provided by IPv4 Depot, your infrastructure must support:

• BGP-Capable Hardware: Routers must be capable of running the Border Gateway Protocol to announce the prefixes to the internet.
• ASN (Autonomous System Number): You must have a registered ASN from an RIR to announce your own IP space.
• IPAM Software: A system to track the allocation of the new space across your internal or customer-facing infrastructure.
• ROA/RPKI: Ability to create Route Origin Authorizations to secure your BGP announcements and prevent IP hijacking.

To successfully engage with IPv4 Depot, organizations should meet the following prerequisites:

• RIR Membership: Active membership with a Regional Internet Registry (ARIN, RIPE, APNIC, etc.) is required for the legal transfer of IP space.
• Technical Justification: Most RIRs require a documented 'need' for the IP space. Buyers must be prepared to provide network growth plans or utilization statistics.
• Legal/Compliance Review: Capacity to execute Asset Purchase Agreements (APA) or Lease Agreements.
• Financial Readiness: For purchases, liquid capital is required as transactions move quickly; for leasing, a recurring operational budget must be established.
• Network Engineering: A team capable of announcing the new prefixes via BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) once the transfer or lease is finalized.

The timeline for acquiring IPv4 space depends heavily on the RIR involved and the transaction type:

• Phase 1: Discovery & Matching (1-3 Days): Identification of required block size (/24 to /16) and verification of seller/lessor credentials.
• Phase 2: Contract Execution (2-5 Days): Negotiation and signing of the APA or Lease Agreement.
• Phase 3: Escrow/Payment (2-3 Days): Funds are secured in escrow to protect both parties.
• Phase 4: RIR Transfer Process (1-4 Weeks): This is the most variable phase. ARIN or RIPE must approve the transfer. IPv4 Depot manages the documentation to minimize delays.
• Phase 5: Go-Live (1 Day): Once the RIR database reflects the new ownership, the buyer can announce the IPs via their routers.

IPv4 Depot provides high-touch advisory support throughout the lifecycle:

• Dedicated Broker: A single point of contact to manage negotiations and documentation.
• Administrative Support: Assistance with RIR ticket creation and responding to registry inquiries.
• Technical Advisory: Guidance on subnetting and how to prepare your network for new prefix announcements.
• Post-Sale Support: Assistance with RDNS (Reverse DNS) setup and WHOIS record updates after the transfer is complete.
• 24/7 Monitoring: For leased space, support is available to address any routing or reputation issues that arise.

IPv4 addresses are infrastructure-level assets, so integration focuses on network routing and registry management:

• BGP Configuration: Integration with edge routers (Cisco, Juniper, Arista) to announce the new prefixes.
• RIR Portal Access: Access to ARIN Online, RIPE LIR Portal, or equivalent to manage WHOIS records and RDNS.
• LOA (Letter of Agency): For leased space, IPv4 Depot provides an LOA, which must be submitted to your upstream ISP to allow them to route the IPs.
• API/Automation: While the transfer is manual, once acquired, the IPs integrate with standard IPAM (IP Address Management) tools like NetBox or SolarWinds.

Security and reputation are paramount in IP transfers:

• Clean Space Guarantee: IPv4 Depot vets prefixes to ensure they have no history of abuse, spam, or malicious activity.
• Ownership Verification: Strict "Know Your Customer" (KYC) protocols to ensure the seller has the legal right to transfer the blocks.
• Data Privacy: All transactions are handled with strict confidentiality to protect the network architecture details of both parties.
• Regulatory Compliance: Full adherence to the transfer policies of the respective RIRs (e.g., ARIN Policy 8.3 and 8.4).
• Secure Financials: Integration with industry-standard escrow platforms to prevent fraud.