I wouldn't worry about it that much. Probably had nothing to do with your IP. Either the usual dance or you built some links Google really didn't like.i dont even bother using comments.....but I think Google must have some kind of signals that are hard to trick .....even like wordpress google fonts etc.....so you are saying ip does not matter?
I was discovering PBNs and how you have to be super careful to not even login into your WP via same ip, better yet just use a centralized system that you log in and via that system you manage your blogs......
In short: mostly no need for VPN when building links.
You shouldn't be scary about G when building links: G won't know that you built the link with the same IP. The site owner usually does not inform G that somebody with your IP built a link... Different to that when building links on wordpress via comments: Akismet will detect you quickly and burn your domain for a longer time.
Different to that when building links on wordpress via comments: Akismet will detect you quickly and burn your domain for a longer time.
Don't think op was talking about IP of where the link is. Assuming op meant hiding his IP address while creating links, etc.It IP was not a problem. Then there was no need of using PBN hosting servicss such as EashBlogNetworks etc