For years, industry observers have predicted the slow decline of the IPv4 demand. Each new IPv6 deployment was expected to weaken demand and reduce transfer activity. Yet once again, the data tells a very different story. The IPv4 market hasn’t just survived—it has proven remarkably resilient.

Last month alone, approximately 150 IPv4 transfer requests were recorded. That figure is not an anomaly. It aligns almost perfectly with this year’s monthly average of 148 transfers, underscoring a steady, durable level of market activity. Even more telling, current transfer volume is 6% higher than the average of the past three years, a period that already reflected a mature and active secondary market. In other words, IPv4 demand isn’t tapering off—it’s quietly strengthening.

This consistency matters. Unlike speculative assets driven by hypercycles, the IPv4 market continues to be anchored in real operational need. Enterprises, cloud providers, content platforms, and network operators still require IPv4 to scale services, maintain compatibility, and onboard customers. IPv6 adoption may be growing, but it has not eliminated the business reality that IPv4 remains mission-critical infrastructure.

Nothing illustrates this better than Amazon’s recent purchase of approximately 5 million IPv4 addresses. At an estimated $50,000,000 to $60,000,000, this was not a defensive purchase or a short-term hedge—it was a clear signal. Even the largest, most technically advanced cloud providers in the world still see long-term value in controlling IPv4 resources. When a hyperscaler commits capital at that scale, it reinforces what the transfer data already shows: demand is persistent, strategic, and far from satisfied. With few other players in the market, the hyperscalers were able to control the pricing over the past 2 years to get favorable rates.

Looking ahead, the market may be entering another inflection point. BEAD funding is expected to begin distributing in Q1 of 2026, unlocking around $20 billion for broadband expansion across underserved regions. As new networks are built and existing ones scale, operators will face a familiar challenge—deploying infrastructure that must interoperate seamlessly with the broader internet. That almost certainly means acquiring IPv4 addresses.

At first glance, it may appear that supply is sufficient. Legacy holders continue to bring space to market, and transfer pipelines remain healthy. However, increased demand driven by BEAD-funded projects and rapid growth of AI will likely tighten availability in specific regions or block sizes, particularly for clean, well-documented address space. Historically, demand shocks tied to infrastructure investment have had a direct impact on pricing, even when overall supply appears ample.

The takeaway is clear: the IPv4 market is no longer driven by panic or scarcity headlines. It is driven by steady fundamentals, enterprise-grade demand, and long-term planning. As public funding accelerates network expansion and major players continue to invest heavily in IPv4 assets, price stability—and potentially upward pressure—should not be underestimated.

IPv4 is no longer a stopgap. It is a proven, fundamental asset class that continues to earn its place at the center of global internet growth.