FAQs

The price of an IP number block isn’t fixed—it can vary based on several key factors.

• One of the most significant is the size of the IPv4 block. Larger blocks naturally come with more IP addresses, but they also offer better routing efficiencies for network operators, making them more appealing.
• Another factor is the type of block. Some blocks, like "micro-allocations," are designed for specific uses, such as network management. These blocks tend to hold more value due to the routing policies and operational processes tied to them.
• Most importantly, an IP block's value is shaped by its rights. Blocks with clear, verifiable ownership, like those sold through our platform, often command a premium because of the trust and security they offer.

At IPv4Mall, we provide specialized tools to help our marketplace buyers assess and determine the value of IP number blocks.

People often mix up IP blocks and IP addresses, but there’s an important difference between the two. Let’s break it down simply.

• An IP block is a range of consecutive IP numbers starting from a specific point. For example, in IPv4, a block can be as small as a single number (called a /32 block) or as large as the entire pool of addresses defined by the protocol. The largest blocks allocated to individual organizations, called /8 blocks, contain 16,777,216 sequential IP numbers.
• An IP address is a specific number from that range. Think of it as a unique tag assigned to devices—like computers, printers, or routers—on a network. Every device using the Internet Protocol (IP) to communicate needs its own IP address. For example, when an IP number is assigned to a specific device or network interface, it transforms into an IP address that uniquely identifies that device.

In short, an IP block is a collection of numbers, and an IP address is a single number from that collection.

Back in the early days of the Internet, up until 1997, the U.S. government handed out IPv4 address blocks pretty freely. The idea was to jumpstart the growth of this new technology. They didn’t overcomplicate things—just a simple form, no strings attached. There were no contracts, no fancy legal terms, and no limitations on how or where these addresses could be used, then or down the road. These generously distributed addresses are now called “Legacy” IPv4 numbers.

IPv4, short for Internet Protocol Version 4, is the backbone of how data moves across the Internet. It’s the most widely adopted system for transmitting data packets, making it a universal standard. Nearly every device connected to the Internet relies on IPv4, which is why it handles over 99% of online traffic today. Simply put, if something’s online, it’s probably using IPv4 to get the job done.

IPv4 number blocks don't place any restrictions on where a specific IPv4 protocol can be advertised, nor do they guarantee that the ads will reach every part of the public Internet. In short, there are no known global or local laws that limit where a specific IP block can be used or spread. The way these routable IPv4 blocks are used depends on the choices made by the block owner regarding how and where to share them.

Generally, the sharing of these IP blocks is agreed upon through various contracts, like peering agreements between ISPs, transit services, or agreements between ISPs and their clients. These arrangements determine how the IP blocks get propagated across different networks.

Yes, it’s true, but it's not a commonly used term. What you're referring to is more accurately called "contract bound."

Basically, since 1998, all IPv4 address blocks that were allocated come with an "RIR" contract. This agreement sets certain rules, like not allowing the sale or transfer of those address blocks without permission from the RIR. Plus, there's a regional restriction—they can only be used in the area they were originally assigned to. These terms are really strict and are enforced by the organization that allocated the address in the first place.

Yes, selling IPv4 address blocks is completely legal. In fact, courts have recognized and approved this practice, particularly when it comes to transferring IPv4 blocks during events like bankruptcies, mergers, acquisitions, or even business restructuring. There aren't any international or local laws that prohibit buying or selling IPv4 number blocks.

However, for certain IPv4 blocks, there might be some contractual restrictions that affect how those blocks can be transferred. In these cases, the owner’s rights are limited to the terms of the service contract, and they must follow any specific transfer policies that apply to the block.

The method we use today to define the size of IPv4 number blocks is called CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing). Basically, CIDR notation shows where a block of IP addresses starts and how big it is. It’s written as an IP address followed by a slash and a number. This number represents how many bits of the address are used for the network portion.

For example, 192.168.0.0/16 includes 65,536 addresses, starting from 192.168.0.0 and ending at 192.168.255.255. It’s a handy way to group and manage IP addresses more flexibly.

When it comes to market prices, it's simple – when more people want something but the supply stays the same, prices go up. On the other hand, if there’s more supply than demand, prices drop. But there’s more to it than just supply and demand. For instance, the specific rights tied to an IPv4 block, the type of block, its size, and even the reputation of the numbers inside the block can all play a role in shaping its market value.

There is a total range of 4,294,967,296 numbers in version 4 of the Internet protocol, of which nearly 44% or 1,896,000,000 are “Legacy” numbers.

It depends on the terms of the contract. By default, there's no rule that ties a specific IPv4 address block to a particular region or country. There's no global law or local jurisdiction that restricts where an IPv4 block can be used. In fact, courts have supported the buying, selling, and transfer of IPv4 assets, especially in cases like bankruptcies, mergers, and acquisitions, across different regions.

That said, there are sometimes specific agreements or contracts that limit the use of certain IPv4 blocks to particular geographic areas. So, while you typically have freedom, the contract may impose some restrictions in specific cases.

No, and that might be due to some contractual or technical reasons. When it comes to subsets of IPv4 address blocks, there are certain restrictions in place. These restrictions, set by contracts and Regional Internet Registry (RIR) policies, can limit or prevent the sale of certain address blocks. Specifically, blocks smaller than /24 (those with fewer than 256 IPs) aren't propagated according to global internet routing rules, so IPv4Mall doesn’t consider them as "sellable."