GMO Internet Group

GMO Internet Group is a Tokyo-based internet conglomerate operating under the slogan "Internet for Everyone." Its business is vertically integrated across the domain industry and beyond it, running from domain registration through hosting, SSL certification, and payments to cryptocurrency trading. In 2014 the company paid $6.8 million for the two-character domain Z.com, a purchase tied directly to its international expansion plans.

Founded in 1991 as Voice Media Inc., the company passed through several reinventions before becoming Japan's dominant domain registrar and a significant operator across Asia's internet infrastructure. Over 37 million registered domains sit under management through the flagship onamae.com service, alongside continued expansion into international markets.

The integration is the distinguishing feature. A single customer 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 trade cryptocurrencies through GMO Coin, all inside the same corporate group.

Within the infrastructure business, several brands target specific segments. MuuMuu Domain serves individuals and small businesses with over 620 domain extensions. Value Domain covers domain services with features including email forwarding and dynamic DNS. The hosting division ranges from basic shared hosting to enterprise GPU cloud services aimed at AI and machine learning workloads.

Reach extends well past domain services. The group operates internet service provider networks, online advertising platforms, and financial trading services, and maintains one of Asia's largest SSL certificate authorities. That diversification created a business model where success in one area drives growth in others.

The group counts 106 companies worldwide, including 9 publicly listed subsidiaries, and over 6,300 employees across Asia. It is an ICANN-accredited registrar with IANA ID 49.