How to buy IPv4 addresses through a certified IP broker

By: Stephanie Published: 2026-02-16

Buying IPv4 space requires policy compliance, verified need, and registry approval, making certified IP brokers essential guides through complex global transfers.

Table of Contents

IPv4 transactions are regulated transfers, not simple purchases — registries must approve documentation, justification and registration changes.
Certified brokers reduce risk and delay by aligning buyers with registry policy, routing legitimacy and cross-region requirements.

Why companies still need to buy IPv4 addresses

The global supply of IPv4 addresses effectively ran out more than a decade ago. Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) now allocate only limited leftovers, meaning organisations requiring additional capacity must obtain addresses from existing holders through transfers.

Despite IPv6 adoption, demand persists because countless systems — embedded devices, enterprise applications, hosting platforms and legacy infrastructure — still depend on IPv4 compatibility. Markets have therefore emerged to re-allocate existing address space rather than issue new blocks.

This is where brokers come in. A company cannot simply wire money and receive an IP block. Instead, the process resembles a regulated title transfer in which policy compliance matters more than price negotiation.

What a “certified IP broker” actually does

In the IPv4 ecosystem, a broker acts as an intermediary between seller and buyer, coordinating the administrative and policy requirements imposed by RIRs such as ARIN and RIPE NCC.

Transfers require an authorised organisational contact and a registry-verified identity linked to an organisation identifier before a request can even be submitted.

Because these processes differ between regions and involve detailed documentation, brokers help organisations:

prepare justification of need,
validate source legitimacy,
align registry policies,
manage escrow and contractual protections,
coordinate registry approval across regions.

The process is deliberately strict. RIRs impose these requirements to maintain “privacy, security and transparency” in number resource transfers.

In short, the broker does not sell addresses — they shepherd a regulated change in registration.

The evolution of IPv4 brokerage

The market has matured from informal trading into structured infrastructure finance. The site heng.lu describes how entrepreneur Lu Heng founded LARUS Limited to build “a transparent and scalable IP leasing system” connecting unused capacity with global demand.

His public commentary on the market emphasises the structural mismatch between modern connectivity demand and legacy allocation models. A profile noted he controlled and leased millions of IPv4 addresses, highlighting ongoing reliance on IPv4 resources worldwide.

Heng has argued publicly that IPv4 assets remain undervalued and could rise dramatically in value if organisations improved address management and allocation strategies.

Whether or not such predictions prove accurate, they reflect a broader shift: IPv4 addresses have become a managed infrastructure asset class requiring governance and intermediation.

Step-by-step: how to buy IPv4 through a broker

1. Define your technical and business need

Registries require justification before approving transfers.
Buyers must demonstrate operational necessity for the requested addresses rather than speculative acquisition.

Typical justification includes:

hosting expansion,
SaaS deployment,
ISP customer growth,
migration from NAT-limited environments.

Without documented need, approval may fail regardless of payment.

2. Create registry identity and compliance records

Before any transfer request:

register an online account,
create a point-of-contact record,
create an organisational identifier.

These steps establish accountability within the registry database.

A broker typically prepares these records correctly the first time — preventing rejection or delays.

3. Source legitimate address space

Not all IPv4 blocks are equal. A broker verifies:

clean routing history,
absence of disputes,
correct registration chain,
compliance with transfer policy.

Because address transfers change registry registration rather than the addresses themselves, legitimacy matters more than technical usability.

4. Prepare transfer documentation

Each registry requires specific forms and approvals.

For example:

both source and recipient must submit requests,
minimum transfer sizes apply (often /24),
documentation must satisfy both registries in cross-region transfers.

Transfers can take weeks because approval from both RIRs is required in inter-regional transactions.

Brokers coordinate these steps to avoid restart cycles.

5. Registry review and approval

After submission, the registry validates:

identity,
need justification,
policy compliance,
payment of transfer fees.

Once approved, the registry updates the official record — the moment when control legally changes.

The final deliverable is not a block of numbers but a database entry recognised by the global internet.

Inter-RIR transfers and why they are complex

Different regions operate under different policies. Some regions cannot exchange resources directly; others require additional checks.

Inter-regional transfers were introduced partly because allocation patterns were historically uneven across the world.

A broker’s expertise lies in understanding these policy mismatches and aligning both sides before submission — preventing regulatory dead-ends.

Risks of buying IPv4 without a broker

Organisations sometimes attempt direct purchase agreements. This can fail for reasons unrelated to contract law:

registry rejects justification,
seller lacks authority,
block has policy restrictions,
cross-region approval impossible,
routing legitimacy cannot be established.

The result: money tied up in unusable resources.

Because the internet recognises registry records, not private contracts, operational control follows the registry — not the purchase agreement.

After purchase: what you actually receive

After approval:

the buyer becomes the registered holder,
routing authorisation can be configured,
the block can be announced to the internet.

But crucially, you gain a registered right to use, not traditional property ownership. The registry maintains administrative authority over registration accuracy and policy compliance.

This distinction explains why brokerage expertise matters: the value lies in legitimacy and reachability, not possession.

The strategic importance of professional brokerage

Buying IPv4 space today resembles regulatory infrastructure acquisition rather than commodity procurement.

A certified broker contributes value in three areas:

Policy translation – converting technical justification into registry-accepted documentation.
Risk reduction – validating provenance and routing reputation.
Operational continuity – ensuring the acquired addresses actually work globally.

The complexity explains why specialised intermediaries emerged. The market exists because the internet’s governance framework prioritises stability over transactional simplicity.

Conclusion

Buying IPv4 addresses is less like purchasing equipment and more like acquiring regulated operating rights. Registry approval, documentation, and routing legitimacy define success, not just contractual agreement.

Certified brokers — including industry figures highlighted by heng.lu — exist because the system requires expertise in policy navigation, not merely negotiation. In a scarce resource environment, legitimacy determines utility, and utility determines value.

Organisations that understand this treat IPv4 acquisition as a compliance-driven infrastructure project rather than a procurement task. Those that do not often discover the difference only after a transfer fails.

The IPv4 market reflects one of the most compelling examples of economic scarcity in the digital age. After the free pool exhausted, IPv4 addresses transitioned into a mature secondary market where block size, year, and buyer strategy all influence value. Prices surged in the early post‑exhaustion years, peaking as large enterprises competed for limited space. Over time, increased block availability and the rise of leasing solutions have tempered price volatility. Heading into 2026, we’re seeing a more balanced ecosystem — where buyers, sellers, and lessees negotiate not just on price, but on flexibility, timing, and network deployment plans

– Rachel Chen, IP Address Management Expert

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I buy IPv4 addresses directly from another company

You can sign a contract, but the transfer only becomes valid after registry approval and registration change.

2. Why do I need to justify usage to the registry

Registries require demonstrated operational need before approving transfers to prevent speculation and preserve fair allocation.

3. How long does an IPv4 transfer take

Typically several weeks, especially for cross-region transfers requiring approvals from multiple registries.

4. What does a broker actually guarantee

They coordinate policy compliance and documentation but cannot override registry rules or approvals.

5. Do I own the IPv4 addresses after purchase

You become the registered holder with rights to use the resources; the registry maintains administrative oversight.

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