GMO Internet Group

When GMO Internet Group acquired the Z.com domain for $6.8 million in 2014, it wasn't just buying a premium two-character domain — it was making a statement about its global ambitions. This Tokyo-based internet conglomerate, operating under the slogan "Internet for Everyone," has built something rare in the domain industry: a vertically integrated ecosystem that spans everything from domain registration to cryptocurrency trading.

Founded in 1991 as Voice Media Inc., the company has evolved through multiple reinventions to become Japan's dominant domain registrar and a major player across Asia's internet infrastructure. With over 37 million registered domains under management through their flagship onamae.com service, GMO Internet Group holds a commanding market position in Japan while expanding aggressively into international markets.

What sets GMO apart from typical domain registrars is the breadth of their integrated services. While most companies focus on either domains or hosting or payments, GMO has built a complete digital business platform. Their customers can register a domain through onamae.com, deploy it on GMO Cloud hosting, secure it with GlobalSign SSL certificates, process payments through GMO Payment Gateway, and even trade cryptocurrencies through GMO Coin — all within the same corporate ecosystem.

The company's infrastructure business operates through multiple brands, each targeting specific market segments. MuuMuu Domain serves individual users and small businesses with over 620 domain extensions, while Value Domain offers comprehensive domain services with features like email forwarding and dynamic DNS. Their hosting division ranges from basic shared hosting to enterprise GPU cloud services optimized for AI and machine learning workloads.

GMO's reach extends far beyond traditional domain services. They operate internet service provider networks, run online advertising platforms, provide financial trading services, and maintain one of Asia's largest SSL certificate authorities. This diversification has created a self-reinforcing business model where success in one area drives growth in others.

Today, GMO Internet Group operates 106 companies worldwide, including 9 publicly listed subsidiaries, with over 6,300 employees across Asia. As an ICANN-accredited registrar with IANA ID 49, they maintain the technical infrastructure that keeps millions of websites online while continuing to expand their platform capabilities across new markets and technologies.