> Unfortunately you cannot simply HODL IPv4 because authorities can come over and take you blocks back if they are not used. No longer true, depending on the R

> Unfortunately you cannot simply HODL IPv4 because authorities can come over and take you blocks back if they are not used. No longer true, depending on the RIR and their exact policies. At least RIPE and ARIN see leasing blocks as proper usage. The only thing you might run into a snag with would be if you had zero customers leasing blocks within the region the RIR is responsible for. For example, if you have a /19 assigned to ARIN right now and want to lease it to a European entity announcing it from Europe, you might need to transfer it to RIPE so the proper party gets paid membership dues. It's certainly more hands on than holding equities (or crypto), much like renting out a few apartments is more effort than simply holding an REIT. Quite doable for anyone with an ISP/infrastructure background and capital to put into acquiring ipv4 blocks. It's actually much easier then renting out real estate (I do both), as it's mostly just jumping on tickets that need you to click a couple buttons every so often. If you find some stable/large lessees, it's more or less set it and forget it for N number of years. I'm not sure I'd advise people to jump into this market when IPv4 is hitting $50 per address, but I've also thought the "top" was in years ago so what do I know :) I've pondered for a few years now somehow offering "IPv4 investors" fractional ownership of an LLC stood up to lease out address blocks - I just never had the time to get through the legal/tax complexity of having 50-100 partners all pooling capital. Banks are surprisingly willing to finance these acquisitions as well, assuming you have an industry track record.