IPv4 Demand: The Top Industries in 2026

Why IPv4 Still Matters

IPv4 powers the majority of internet traffic today. Many networks, applications, and devices still depend on it for compatibility, performance, and reliability. Because supply is finite, organizations increasingly turn to the secondary market to buy or lease IPv4 addresses — an area where IPTrading has provided trusted expertise for over 30 years.

Top Industries Driving IPv4 Demand

• Cloud & Web Hosting Providers

Cloud platforms need large IPv4 inventories to support virtual servers, load balancers, and customer environments. IPv4 remains critical due to customer network compatibility and legacy configurations.

• Telecommunications & ISPs

ISPs and mobile providers require significant IPv4 address space to support residential users, enterprise customers, and carrier-grade NAT deployments, making them consistent market participants.

• IoT & Smart Infrastructure

IoT growth across smart cities, logistics, and industrial systems continues to drive demand. While IPv6 adoption is increasing, many IoT ecosystems still rely heavily on IPv4.

• Data Centers & Edge Computing

As data centers expand and edge computing deployments grow, organizations need additional IPv4 space to support distributed infrastructure, security systems, and routing.

• Gaming, Streaming & Digital Media

Latency-sensitive services like gaming and streaming depend on IPv4 for performance and device compatibility, requiring large pools of public IP addresses.

• Enterprise & E-Commerce

Enterprises rely on IPv4 for public-facing services such as websites, APIs, VPNs, and payment platforms, often operating in dual-stack environments alongside IPv6.

What’s Driving Continued IPv4 Demand

• IPv4 scarcity keeps prices and demand strong
• Uneven IPv6 adoption across regions and industries
• Ongoing IoT growth and legacy infrastructure dependencies

How IPTrading Helps & Final Thoughts

IPv4 demand isn’t going away in 2026, it’s becoming more strategic. As the industries driving growth continue to rely on IPv4, smart planning and trusted partnerships are essential. IPTrading helps organizations buy, sell, and lease IPv4 addresses through compliant, transparent transactions. Whether you’re scaling infrastructure or optimizing unused assets, our team simplifies the process from start to finish, ensuring you’re prepared for the future of IP demand.

Explore your IPv4 options with IPTrading today.