Yes, but they run a bunch of other useful services for internet plumbers too.

This would just be another "general good of the internet" service.

RIPE for example run.

Atlas: A cooperative service for internet reachability and measurements. - https://www.ripe.net/analyse/internet-measurements/ripe-atla...

DNSMON: Monitor the root and TLD's and other key internet domains. Does so from many locations so as to test anycast issues. - https://dnsmon.ripe.net/

RIPEStat / BGplay: Debug and examine internet reachability issues. - https://stat.ripe.net/ - https://stat.ripe.net/bgplay

And volunteer resources to help to run other things, like https://www.as112.net/ that sinks all the PTR lookups for RFC1918 that leaks to the internet, among other things.

That a nonprofit entity whose mission it is to keep the Internet running smoothly decided to provide the resources needed to keep this useful service available.

That doesn't seem too surprising to me and should ensure that the site can be run sustainably without burning out volunteers.

RIRs also run public (web) infrastructure, and it sounds like one of them will take over this project. What's your question exactly?

Ah yeah, I misread/misunderstood. I though they were saying they are transitioning INTO an RIR, as in becoming an RIR themselves.