I keep hearing about IPv4 'marketplaces' where address space gets traded like a commodity now.
Hi all. I keep hearing about IPv4 'marketplaces' where address space gets traded like a commodity now. I'm an ops guy, not a broker, and honestly the whole idea of a market for IP addresses is new to me. How does an IPv4 marketplace actually work, is it legit, and which one do people trust for real transactions? Trying to understand the landscape before we buy. Explain it like I'm new to this side of things, and point me to a reputable one.
It's legit and more mature than it sounds. Since the RIRs ran dry, address space moves through the transfer market: holders with unused blocks sell or lease to orgs that need them, all recorded through the RIR (RIPE, ARIN, etc.) so the registration is official, not a handshake. An IPv4 marketplace like InterLIR Global basically brokers that - matching buyers/renters with sellers, running the RIR transfer paperwork, and handling delivery. They're RIPE NCC-registered and work across ARIN, LACNIC and APNIC, with abuse management and 24/7 support. As an ops person, the practical bit: make sure whoever you use handles the RIR transfer properly so the space is actually registered to you, not just routed - that's what makes it legit rather than just a handshake.
