[dinosammy]

Is there any way to purchase IPv4 addresses as an investor? It seems like they will be an appreciating asset over the next few years, if you are willing to make the gamble that IPv6 adoption will be on a longer timeframe, rather than a shorter timeframe

[scurvy]

IP networks acquired via purchase are still subject to local IRR use regulations. You can't just gobble up IP space without using them nor without using what you've currently got (80% utilization).

Even if you managed to acquire them, the IRR's could claw them back (in theory).

[eeeeeeeeeeeee]

That's not true. Leased space is very different from IPv4 space you own, specifically legacy space that pre-dates the creation of these RIRs. You can definitely buy IPv4 space and use it however you want and re-sell it, split it up, etc.

ARIN has the most ridiculous policies on IPv4 space and RIPE actually has the best, in my experience.

IPv6 is coming no matter what and a healthy IPv4 market is not going to stop that. The IPv4 market improves efficiency by re-distributing the addresses to people that actually need them.

Right now there are millions of addresses in the hands of people that don't even need a single IPv4 address and often don't even remember registering the space in the 90s (IPs that have not been publicly announced on the Internet for decades). They gave out too many addresses to the wrong people in the 90s and an open market will help distribute it to the people that have a technical need for them.

[pyvpx]

not if they are legacy and not subject to the LIRs usage agreement.

you might have to buy some really big military contractors to pull that off, though :)