The Short Answer: No, It Does Not
This is one of the most frequently asked questions by new RIPE NCC members, and the answer is clear: purchasing IPv4 addresses on the secondary market does not affect your position on the RIPE NCC IPv4 waiting list. These are two completely separate mechanisms.
Understanding the RIPE NCC IPv4 Waiting List
When RIPE NCC exhausted its final /8 pool in November 2019, it established a waiting list for organizations that want to receive a /24 allocation directly from RIPE. Here is how it works:
- New LIR members are automatically placed on the waiting list upon request
- Each eligible LIR can receive one /24 block (256 IP addresses)
- Allocations are made when address space becomes available (returned blocks, revoked resources, etc.)
- The waiting time can be months or even years
- Once you reach the top of the list and receive your /24, you are removed from the waiting list
How Market Transfers Are Different
When you buy IPv4 addresses on the market (through platforms like IPv4.center), you are engaging in a transfer between two parties under RIPE NCC's transfer policy. This is fundamentally different from receiving an allocation from RIPE's pool:
| Aspect | Waiting List Allocation | Market Transfer |
|---|---|---|
| Source | RIPE NCC's recovered pool | Another organization's existing holdings |
| Cost | Free (covered by membership fees) | Market price ($28-$38 per IP for /24) |
| Size limit | One /24 per LIR | No limit |
| Timeline | Months to years | 2-4 weeks |
| Policy | RIPE-757 (Last /8 policy) | RIPE-713 (Transfer policy) |
Why These Two Mechanisms Don't Interfere
RIPE NCC tracks waiting list allocations and market transfers under completely separate policy frameworks:
- Waiting list allocations fall under policy ripe-757, which governs the distribution of the last /8 address space
- Market transfers fall under policy ripe-713, which governs the transfer of IPv4 addresses between organizations
Since these are governed by independent policies, activity under one does not affect the other. You can buy as many IPv4 blocks as you need on the market while maintaining your waiting list position.
What Can Affect Your Waiting List Position?
Your waiting list position can only be affected by:
- Cancelling your request: You voluntarily remove yourself from the list
- Losing LIR status: If your RIPE NCC membership is terminated
- Receiving your allocation: Once you get your /24 from the waiting list, you are removed
- Policy violations: Serious compliance issues with RIPE NCC
Our Recommendation
If you urgently need IPv4 addresses, do not wait for the RIPE waiting list. The wait can be very long and you are limited to a single /24. Instead:
- Stay on the waiting list for the free /24 - it will come eventually
- Buy or lease the addresses you need now from the IPv4 marketplace
- Both approaches are complementary, not conflicting
Need IPv4 addresses right away? Browse available blocks on our marketplace and complete your purchase in as little as 2 weeks.