Will Buying IPv4 Remove You From The RIPE Waiting List?

I've been asked this question quite a few times recently:

"If I buy IPv4 addresses now, will RIPE remove me from the waiting list?"

The confusion is understandable. A lot of people assume that once an organization acquires IPv4 space through the transfer market, it automatically becomes ineligible for a future allocation from the RIPE waiting list.

In practice, it's not that simple.

The RIPE waiting list was designed to distribute recovered IPv4 space, but the allocation available today is only a single /24 (256 IPv4 addresses). For some organizations that's enough, but for hosting providers, ISPs, cloud companies, VPN operators, and larger networks, 256 addresses often don't go very far.

That's why many companies don't view the waiting list and the transfer market as alternatives. They use both.

A business may join the waiting list to secure any future allocation it becomes eligible for, while at the same time purchasing or leasing IPv4 addresses to cover current operational needs. This is especially common for companies that are actively growing and can't afford to wait years for additional address space.

Another detail that often catches buyers by surprise is RIPE's 24-month transfer restriction. If you're considering acquiring IPv4 resources, it's worth understanding how that rule can affect future transfers and long-term planning.

I've put together a more detailed explanation covering the most common questions we receive from buyers, including waiting list eligibility, transfer policies, and the reasons many organizations choose to buy IPv4 while remaining on the waiting list.

Full article:

👉 https://ipv4center.com/blog/buying-ipv4-affect-ripe-waiting-list

If you've gone through this process yourself, I'd be curious to hear how your organization approached it.