Surge in IPv4 Transfers Contrasts With Declining Demand

In 2025, monthly demand for IPv4 address blocks has held steady at around 153 requests. However, April marked a notable deviation, with only 137 requests submitted—a roughly 10% drop compared to the year’s average of 157. This dip raises concerns about broader market forces, particularly delays in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program and shifting federal priorities.

The BEAD Program, launched under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, earmarks over $42 billion to expand high-speed internet access across the U.S., with a focus on underserved and rural communities. Many ISPs have structured their infrastructure investment timelines around anticipated BEAD funding. However, delays in state-level planning—exacerbated by federal considerations to redirect portions of the funding to satellite providers—have created uncertainty. A program restructure is expected by the end of June, leaving many broadband providers in a holding pattern.

This uncertainty appears to be directly influencing IPv4 market behavior. ISPs commonly acquire address blocks in preparation for network expansions. With many BEAD-funded projects stalled or delayed, the urgency to procure new IPv4 blocks has likely diminished. April’s slowdown in requests may reflect a temporary pause as companies await greater clarity on the funding rollout and implementation timelines.

Yet, despite this pause in demand from smaller ISPs, the overall IPv4 market remains active. Our analysis of ARIN transfer data from 2015 through 2025 reveals a nuanced picture. While prices for /17 and larger blocks have seen modest declines, the total volume of IPv4 addresses transferred is already outpacing the last two years. As of May, over 18 million addresses have been transferred, putting 2025 on track to surpass 37 million—potentially reaching a seven-year high.

This surge suggests continued robust activity from hyperscalers and other large buyers, who appear to be capitalizing on softer demand to negotiate more favorable pricing. While small and mid-sized ISPs wait on BEAD developments, major players are pressing ahead with their address acquisitions.

The IPv4 market, as always, remains sensitive to both policy shifts and broader infrastructure trends. As the BEAD program’s direction becomes clearer in the coming months, it will likely play a key role in shaping demand through the second half of the year.

While a single month doesn’t establish a long-term trend, April’s decline is notable given the ongoing delays in the BEAD program. If funding distribution and project approvals gain momentum later this year, IPv4 demand could rebound. Until then, the slow pace of BEAD implementation may continue to dampen IPv4 market activity in the near term.

Many states are now working to accelerate the application and approval process in order to distribute funding ahead of the June deadline, especially under the newly restructured guidelines. If these efforts succeed, we could see a significant uptick in demand. Stay tuned to see how BEAD funding unfolds and what impact it has on IPv4 activity in the coming months.