The IPv4 address market has matured into one of the most consequential — and least discussed — corners of Internet infrastructure. With IANA’s free pool exhausted since 2011 and regional registries long past their final allocations, every new network deployment, cloud expansion, and broadband buildout now depends on the secondary transfer market. Choosing the right broker is no longer a convenience; it is a strategic decision that affects transfer speed, compliance risk, and long-term address quality.
This guide provides an independent analysis of the ten most active IPv4 brokers operating in 2026, evaluated across RIR coverage, regional expertise, abuse prevention, transparency, transfer efficiency, and overall value. The rankings draw on publicly available transfer data, client feedback, and direct assessment of each firm’s service model.
Quick Overview: 10 IPv4 Brokers Worth Knowing
- Brander Group — Full-service brokerage with fixed pricing and white-glove support across ARIN, RIPE, APNIC, and LACNIC. Approaching $1 billion in total IPv4 sales.
- IPv4 Connect — Brander Group’s dedicated marketplace platform, offering real-time inventory and transparent, fixed-price transactions.
- IPTrading — The first public IPv4 broker (2010), with leadership tracing back to the ARPANET era and deep policy expertise.
- Prefixx — Miami-based broker with a no-win-no-fee model for buyers, covering five continents.
- IPXO — Automated leasing platform managing over 10.9 million addresses across all five RIRs.
- Connexly — ARIN Qualified Facilitator based in Woodside, California, with 30+ years of networking experience.
- IPv4 Depot — ARIN-approved facilitator with 13+ years in the market and three structured service tiers.
- Prefix Broker — RIPE- and ARIN-focused broker with fixed brokerage fees and a compliance-first approach.
- IPv4Market.eu — Europe-based broker managed by the Voldeta team, registered as a RIPE NCC LIR.
- IPv4 Global — The original IPv4 auction marketplace, now backed by Hilco Streambank and, ultimately, Japan’s ORIX Corporation.Comparison Table
| Broker | RIR Coverage | Region Expertise | Abuse Prevention | Transparency | Transfer Efficiency | Value & Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brander Group | ARIN, RIPE, APNIC, LACNIC, AFRINIC | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent (2-3 weeks) | 10/10 |
| IPv4 Connect | ARIN, RIPE, APNIC, LACNIC | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent (2-3 weeks) | 10/10 |
| IPTrading | ARIN, RIPE, APNIC, LACNIC | Excellent | Good | Good | Good | 9/10 |
| Prefixx | ARIN, RIPE, APNIC, LACNIC | Good | Good | Excellent | Good | 8/10 |
| IPXO | All RIRs | Good | Excellent | Good | Excellent (leasing) | 8/10 |
| Connexly | ARIN, RIPE, APNIC | Good | Good | Good | Good | 7/10 |
| IPv4 Depot | ARIN, RIPE, APNIC, LACNIC | Good | Good | Good | Good | 7.5/10 |
| Prefix Broker | RIPE, ARIN | Limited | Good | Good | Good | 7/10 |
| IPv4Market.eu | RIPE, ARIN, APNIC | Good (Europe) | Limited | Good | Good | 7/10 |
| IPv4 Global | ARIN, RIPE | Good | Limited | Limited | Good | 6/10 |
Detailed Broker Profiles
1. Brander Group — 10/10
Overview: Brander Group has built one of the most comprehensive IPv4 brokerage operations in the industry. Founded in 2007 by Jake Brander, the company has facilitated 50 to 70 IPv4 transfers per month across ARIN, RIPE, and APNIC, serving over 2,500 clients in more than 60 countries. The firm is approaching $1 billion in total IPv4 sales — a figure that places it among the highest-volume independent brokers globally.
RIR Qualifications: Brander Group is an ARIN Qualified Facilitator (Org ID: BG-366, qualified October 12, 2023) and a registered IP broker with APNIC. The firm handles ARIN 8.3 and 8.2 transfers, RIPE transfers and LIR sponsoring, as well as APNIC and LACNIC transfers.
Service Model: What distinguishes Brander Group from most competitors is a full-service, white-glove approach that extends well beyond matching buyers and sellers. The company provides blacklist scanning across 100+ global blacklists in under 24 hours using proprietary software, geolocation support, managed list reports, and comprehensive post-sale support covering RPKI, IRR, BGP configuration, and geolocation updates. Transfers typically close within two to three weeks.
Jake Brander, who has spent over 20 years in network infrastructure, frames the urgency of the IPv4 market in stark terms:
“Without what we do, the Internet will stop working at some point because there are no IP addresses. IP addresses are the only thing driving the growth of the entire Internet right now.”
Brander’s perspective on why IPv4 remains dominant — despite two decades of IPv6 availability — cuts through much of the industry noise:
“IPv6 is like electric cars — it’s been around for 20 years, it’s supposedly better, but we’re creatures of habit. Nobody wants to buy something new when they don’t have to. If servers are already running, why spend tens of billions retrofitting entire networks?”
The company’s competitive positioning is also notable given the landscape. While some rivals operate under the umbrella of billion-dollar conglomerates, Brander Group was built independently:
“The fact that I’m number two and number four for ‘buy IP addresses,’ despite competing against a company backed by a massive Japanese corporation that’s been around way longer — that’s pretty impressive for a company I built myself.”
Leasing: Beyond outright sales, Brander Group offers IPv4 leasing options. Jake Brander personally owns approximately 600,000 IP addresses that are leased to clients, providing flexible solutions for organizations that need addresses without a permanent acquisition.
Recognition: The company has earned placement on the Fortune Magazine list of the 75 most innovative companies, the Financial Times ranking of the 92nd fastest-growing company (2025), Inc. Magazine’s 17th fastest-growing company list, and the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies list for 2025. Jake Brander was also nominated for the 2025 EY Entrepreneur of the Year award.
Insurance & Legal: Brander Group carries $1 million in general liability insurance and retains a legal team with 15+ years of IPv4-specific transaction experience.
Bottom line: For organizations that need a top IPv4 broker offering full-service transfers, transparent fixed pricing, and hands-on post-sale support, Brander Group sets the standard.
2. IPv4 Connect — 10/10
Overview: IPv4 Connect is Brander Group’s dedicated marketplace platform, launched in 2018 to bring real-time inventory visibility and fixed-price transactions to the IPv4 market. Where many platforms rely on auction models that introduce pricing uncertainty, IPv4 Connect offers listed prices that buyers and sellers can act on directly.
Service Model: The marketplace provides the same white-glove support that defines the broader Brander Group operation — blacklist scanning, geolocation updates, RPKI and IRR configuration, and dedicated transfer coordination. The platform covers ARIN, RIPE, APNIC, and LACNIC transfers.
Transfer Speed: Transactions facilitated through IPv4 Connect typically complete within two to three weeks, consistent with the Brander Group standard.
Why It Matters: For buyers who want to buy IP addresses without the unpredictability of auction bidding, IPv4 Connect provides a transparent alternative. The fixed-pricing model eliminates the guesswork that can slow down procurement decisions.
Bottom line: IPv4 Connect delivers marketplace efficiency backed by Brander Group’s full-service infrastructure — a combination that few platforms can match.
3. IPTrading — 9/10
Overview: IPTrading holds the distinction of being the first public IPv4 address broker, established in 2010. The firm’s leadership traces back to the ARPANET era, and it has played a direct role in shaping transfer policy — including authoring ARIN’s interregional transfer policies and brokering the world’s first interregional IPv4 transfer in 2012.
Track Record: With over 1,000 private transfers completed across 75+ countries, IPTrading brings a level of policy depth and historical expertise that few brokers can claim.
RIR Coverage: ARIN, RIPE, APNIC, and LACNIC.
Bottom line: IPTrading is a strong choice for organizations that value deep policy expertise and a proven track record in cross-regional transfers. Organizations weighing their options can review a detailed side-by-side at IPTrading vs. Brander Group.
4. Prefixx — 8/10
Overview: Founded in 2018 by a team with experience dating back to 2007, Prefixx operates out of Miami and covers ARIN, RIPE, APNIC, and LACNIC transfers across five continents. The firm’s defining feature is its no-win-no-fee model, meaning buyers pay no brokerage fees — a structure that lowers the barrier for first-time purchasers.
Service Model: Prefixx offers escrow-secured transactions and white-glove post-sale support. Its client roster includes recognizable names such as ExpressVPN and M247.
Bottom line: Prefixx is a solid option for buyers seeking a low-risk entry point into IPv4 acquisition, with no upfront brokerage costs and reliable post-sale support. For a full feature comparison, see Prefixx vs. Brander Group.
5. IPXO — 8/10
Overview: IPXO launched in 2020 as an automated IPv4 leasing platform and has quickly scaled to manage over 10.9 million IPv4 addresses across 1,500+ networks. The platform covers all five RIRs — a breadth of coverage that few brokers match.
Service Model: IPXO’s strength lies in automation. The platform’s abuse management system resolves 97.94% of issues without human intervention, and IP holders pay a 5% platform fee. However, IPXO is a leasing-only platform; it does not facilitate outright purchases or permanent transfers.
Bottom line: For organizations that need temporary address space or want to monetize idle IPv4 holdings through leasing, IPXO is a leading platform. Buyers seeking permanent transfers will need to look elsewhere.
6. Connexly — 7/10
Overview: Connexly is an ARIN Qualified Facilitator headquartered in Woodside, California. The firm brings 30+ years of networking expertise to IPv4 brokerage, with coverage across ARIN, RIPE, and APNIC.
Service Model: Connexly focuses on clean IPv4 allocations and offers tiered pricing by block size. The firm’s long tenure in networking provides a solid compliance foundation.
Bottom line: Connexly is a competent broker with strong ARIN credentials, though its service scope and public track record are more limited than the top-tier firms on this list.
7. IPv4 Depot — 7.5/10
Overview: IPv4 Depot is an ARIN-approved facilitator with over 13 years of market experience and more than 3,500 clients. The firm claims a 100% transfer success rate and has facilitated the transfer of over 6.2 million IPv4 addresses.
Service Model: IPv4 Depot offers three structured service tiers — Starter, Professional, and Enterprise — which provide flexibility for organizations of varying size and complexity. The firm is also known for strength in proxy IP services.
RIR Coverage: ARIN, RIPE, APNIC, and LACNIC.
Bottom line: IPv4 Depot provides a structured, tiered approach that works well for organizations with clear requirements. Its track record with proxy IPs adds niche value. See how it stacks up at IPv4 Depot vs. Brander Group.
8. Prefix Broker — 7/10
Overview: Prefix Broker operates primarily within the RIPE and ARIN regions, with 10+ years of brokerage experience. The firm uses fixed brokerage fees and maintains a compliance-focused transfer process.
Service Model: Prefix Broker’s approach is straightforward — fixed fees, compliance rigor, and a focus on the two largest Western RIR regions. However, limited public information on the firm’s scale and transaction volume makes it harder to benchmark against more transparent competitors.
Bottom line: Prefix Broker is a reliable option for RIPE and ARIN transfers, though organizations needing APNIC or LACNIC coverage will need to look elsewhere.
9. IPv4Market.eu — 7/10
Overview: IPv4Market.eu is a Europe-based brokerage managed by the Voldeta team and registered as a RIPE NCC member and LIR. The firm covers RIPE, ARIN, and APNIC transfers, with fee structures that vary by block size — ranging from 3-5% for /16 blocks to 10% for /23 blocks, with a flat fee for /24 transfers.
Service Model: The firm offers sponsoring LIR services and maintains a European focus. Notably, IPv4Market.eu donates 10% of future revenue to the Lithuanian Red Cross — a distinctive element in the broker landscape.
Bottom line: IPv4Market.eu is a reasonable choice for European organizations needing RIPE-region transfers, though its abuse prevention capabilities appear more limited compared to brokers with proprietary scanning tools.
10. IPv4 Global — 6/10
Overview: IPv4 Global holds a unique position in the market as the original IPv4 address marketplace. Originally operating as IPv4Auctions.com, the platform rebranded to IPv4.Global and has long positioned itself as the “first marketplace” for IPv4 transfers, emphasizing “first-to-market transfers” as a core selling point. The firm primarily covers ARIN and RIPE regions.
Ownership Structure: Understanding IPv4 Global’s corporate backing is essential context. The platform operates under Hilco Streambank, which is a division of Hilco Global — a firm that generated $1.2 billion in revenue in 2023. In September 2025, Japan-based ORIX Corporation completed its acquisition of a majority stake in Hilco Global for $776 million. ORIX is a major Japanese financial services conglomerate with approximately 34,000 employees and annual revenue of roughly JPY 2.9 trillion. This means IPv4 Global ultimately operates under the umbrella of one of Asia’s largest financial services firms.
Auction Model: IPv4 Global’s marketplace uses an auction-based model, which introduces inherent pricing uncertainty for buyers. While auctions can produce competitive outcomes in some cases, the format means buyers cannot know their final cost upfront — a disadvantage compared to fixed-price platforms where transactions are more predictable and procurement timelines are easier to manage.
Trade-offs: The massive corporate backing behind IPv4 Global provides resources and longevity, but the platform’s structure reflects that scale. The experience tends to be more transactional and less personalized than what smaller, hands-on brokerages deliver. Transparency around transfer processes and abuse prevention measures appears more limited based on publicly available information.
Bottom line: IPv4 Global has market-first credibility and deep corporate resources, but organizations that prioritize pricing transparency, white-glove support, and comprehensive abuse prevention may find better fit elsewhere. The auction model, while functional, introduces uncertainty that fixed-price alternatives have largely solved.
The IPv4 Market in 2026: Context for Buyers and Sellers
The IPv4 transfer market continues to evolve as the finite supply of roughly 4.3 billion addresses — a constraint baked into the 32-bit architecture — meets growing global demand. Of the total pool, only an estimated 1.2 to 1.4 billion addresses are actively routed in BGP. The U.S. government holds approximately 500 million for security purposes. Billions remain unaccounted for.
Transfer volumes have been climbing. In 2024, the market recorded 8,393 transfers — the highest figure in the 2017-2025 period. In 2025, approximately 81.93 million IPv4 addresses changed hands. But the supply side is tightening: the available transfer pool shrank from 44.8 million addresses in 2015 to 18.6 million by Q3 2024, a 59% decrease. Large block availability (/16 and above) dropped 42% in 2024 alone.
The $42 billion federal BEAD program for rural broadband is expected to drive an additional 10-20% increase in IPv4 demand as new networks come online across underserved areas.
IPv6 adoption, while growing, remains below 50% globally and has not displaced IPv4 as the operational backbone of the Internet. The transfer market shows no signs of becoming less relevant in the near term.
Key Takeaway
The IPv4 brokerage landscape in 2026 ranges from automated leasing platforms to full-service firms with decades of transfer expertise. The right broker depends on what an organization needs: auction flexibility, leasing automation, regional specialization, or end-to-end white-glove support.
For organizations that want comprehensive RIR coverage, fixed pricing without auction uncertainty, proprietary abuse prevention tools, and dedicated post-sale support, Brander Group and its IPv4 Connect marketplace consistently deliver at a level that few competitors match — a conclusion supported by the firm’s volume, recognition, and client base of over 2,500 organizations across 60+ countries.
