IPvX is our future

The End of the Era of Traditional IP Addressing: Why the World Needs a New Protocol

IPv6, introduced as a revolutionary solution to the address scarcity of IPv4, provides an almost infinite 2^128 address space.

However, its introduction was based on mid-century technologies and principles that have proven to have limitations. Here are some of them:

1. IPv6 uses a strict hierarchical structure to organize the address space (e.g., /64 prefixes). This model was useful for early networks, but current practice shows that it leads to redundancy and wasted addresses. More flexible allocation systems based on actual needs may be more efficient;
2. IPv6 offers automatic address generation based on MAC addresses (EUI-64). However, this solution does not address today's privacy concerns by making devices easily traceable;
3. IPv6 was developed under the hardware constraints of the 1990s. Concepts that took these limitations into account may have been appropriate then, but now seem archaic, e.g:

a. The use of complex addressing mechanisms;

b. Relying on built-in security features rather than moving much of the functionality to the software layer;

Modern ISPs, in an effort to reserve as many resources as possible, are accelerating the depletion of IPv6:

We predict that IPv6 will run out by 2045, paving the way for a new protocol, IPvX.

IPv6 issues

Inefficient management

In the current system, ISPs reserve huge blocks of IPv6 addresses, often without actively using them. These “frozen” resources are not returned to the pool of available addresses, resulting in a shortage:

1. An operator may allocate a /64 block to an individual IoT device or home, even if a /112 or /120 block is sufficient for all needs;
2. Large providers and companies reserve huge amounts of addresses in an effort to secure their future needs. This restricts access to addresses for smaller players. This practice is reminiscent of IPv4, where large organizations like universities or corporations took over huge ranges, which then remained partially or completely unused for decades;
3. If each network segment or device receives an excessive block of addresses, the amount of free space will decrease faster than expected;
4. Unlike IPv4, where address scarcity forced ISPs to implement strict address management and reuse mechanisms, IPv6 does not yet have such mechanisms. As a result, addresses are allocated less efficiently.

Growing needs

With the rise of IoT, AI and autonomous systems, every device, node or system requires a unique address. As mentioned, due to the seemingly inexhaustible resource, its allocation is inefficient. Meanwhile, more than 30 billion connected devices are expected by 2030 and 600 billion by 2050.

Hierarchical management model

Addresses are distributed through centralized organizations (ICANN, RIR, DNS), which slows down the process and makes it vulnerable to errors and bureaucracy:

1. When a company loses its blocks or they remain unused, the process of reclaiming and redistributing can take months or even years due to bureaucracy;
2. Different regions receive address blocks based on current rather than future needs, leading to shortages in some regions;
3. In 2019, the RIPE NCC experienced IPv4 address allocation issues due to improper processing of requests. Although this was with IPv4, the same model applies to IPv6;
4. Since the Domain Name System (DNS) depends on IP addresses working correctly, errors in allocation or assignment can lead to service failures - ICANN mentioned in 2021 that a single failure in their systems could affect millions of users worldwide;

No return of unused addresses

If a subnetwork is no longer in use, it remains assigned to the ISP, further limiting access to unused addresses.

provider, further limiting the availability of resources.

Prediction: When will IPv6 run out?

Based on the current growth rate of connected devices and active address reservation by ISPs, we predict that there will be a shortage of /48 subnets used for routing by 2045-2050.

Factors accelerating the shortage

- Exponential growth in connected devices (up to 70% annually).

- Increase in autonomous systems such as smart cities and transportation networks.

- Centralization of address management, eliminating the possibility of dynamic reallocation.

Why has the /48 range become the standard?

Scalability

The /48 subnet provides up to 65,536 /64 subnets, each for 2^64 addresses. This is ideal for large organizations and networks.

Simplified routing

Smaller subnets increase the size of routing tables, creating congestion for routers.

Long-term planning

The /48 space provides storage for years to come, but even it can't handle the exponential growth of devices and systems.

The inadequacy of the current address space allocation system further exacerbates the problem by skewing it towards large corporations, which in the near future will be able to gain control of major resources and freeze them within their system, as they will not be able to use them effectively and will be forced to simply store them. As now, for example, Mercedes Benz in Germany, keeps a large block (/8) of IPv4 addresses, which is practically not used against the background of the global deficit of address space, or the network of universities, which froze 10-12 million IPv4 addresses. that in total is 30 percent of the address space allocated to German local registrars; The same thing is happening now with IPv6. Therefore, we already have to talk about the possibility of a shortage of seemingly infinite address space in the near future. It is the imperfection of the protocol developed in the last century and the imperfection of the technology of regulating and distributing the address space that will lead us to a collapse in 20-25 years.

IPvX: what is it and why is it needed?

IPvX is a new protocol that completely redefines the approach to addressing, routing and network resource management. Unlike IPv6, it is based on the principles of decentralized address space management and blockchain technologies.

How does IPvX work?

Address Returns

An address is a composite entity based on the address of the participant in the blockchain, the address of the smart contract related to the participant, and the address of the NFT related to the participant's resource.

The participant address space (2^160 ≈ 1.46 × 10^48 possible addresses) is so large that the probability of collision (two addresses matching) is virtually zero, so that a procedure to return unused addresses is effectively unnecessary.

NFT identifiers

Similar to the situation with participant addresses, the resources related to participants have an almost inexhaustible resource.

Rejection of hierarchy

IPvX by design does not use DNS root zones or hierarchical address allocation elements, but as a backward compatibility measure, it supports addressing in traditional DNS format.

Routing flexibility

Smart contracts manage routes in real time, allowing adaptation to network changes. It is possible to use blockchain as the only distributed source of routing information, which removes restrictions on router table sizes.

Advantages of IPvX over IPv6

Efficiency

Not having to allocate resources in inefficient blocks leads to uniquely efficient use of address resources.

Decentralization

Elimination of centralized registries (ICANN, RIR) makes the system resilient to failures and the influence of bureaucracy.

Transparency

All changes are recorded on the blockchain, eliminating data tampering and errors.

Scalability

IPvX supports unlimited expansion of the address space, allowing it to adapt to any technological challenges.Why is IPvX the future of the Internet?

Why is IPvX the future of the Internet?

IPv6, despite its advantages, remains an improved version of the protocols of the last century. As technological advances accelerate, traditional control models are becoming a bottleneck. IPvX offers a revolutionary approach:

Automation: The absence of unused addresses ensures

efficient resource management;

Flexibility: IPvX adapts to any usage scenario, from IoT to complex networked systems;-

Long-term: Thanks to blockchain and NFT identifiers, IPvX will be the backbone of the Internet of the future;

Conclusion

IPv6 was the solution of its era, but the world is changing and its limitations are becoming more and more apparent. By mid-century we will face an address shortage that will require the introduction of new technologies. IPvX is not just a new version of the protocol, but a completely reimagined model that meets the challenges of the digital future.

IPvX is a system that will ensure a secure, transparent and scalable internet for future generations.

#IPv6 #IPvX #IPv6 #IPvX #Blockchain #IoT #Internet of the Future #Network Revolution