GMO Internet Group
Corporate brand
UnclaimedJapanese internet-services group spanning infrastructure, payments, finance, media, mobile entertainment, and cryptocurrency.
Last updated November 2, 2026
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Overview
GMO Internet Group is a Japanese technology and internet-services holding company headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo. Its principal business is internet infrastructure, particularly domain-name registration, web hosting, internet connectivity, and digital security. Through a large group of subsidiaries and affiliated companies, it also operates payment services, online financial services, advertising and media businesses, mobile entertainment, research services, and cryptocurrency-related operations. The company originated as Voice Media Inc., founded by Masatoshi Kumagai in May 1991. It adopted the name interQ Inc. in November 1995 as it shifted toward internet access and related service infrastructure. In April 2001 it became Global Media Online, Inc., and on June 1, 2005 it was renamed GMO Internet, Inc. The corporate name changed again on September 1, 2022 to GMO Internet Group, Inc., reflecting its role as the holding company and central corporate identity for the wider GMO group. GMO established a strong position in Japan's domain and hosting markets through brands and services including Onamae.com, Muu Muu Domain, VALUE-DOMAIN, Z.com, LOLIPOP!, XREA, CORE SERVER.JP, and GMO Cloud-related offerings. Its security activities include the GlobalSign certificate business, which provides digital certificates and authentication services to customers in multiple markets. The group also supplies internet connectivity through brands such as InterQ, ZERO, Bekkoame, and GMO Tokutoku BB. Beyond infrastructure, GMO's businesses include online payment processing through GMO Payment Gateway and GMO Epsilon; securities and foreign-exchange services through companies associated with GMO Financial Holdings; online advertising and media; consumer research; e-commerce and digital shops; and mobile and online games. GMO Coin represents the group's cryptocurrency business. The portfolio has changed over time as businesses have been acquired, reorganized, integrated, or discontinued. The group has used the slogan "Internet for Everyone" to express its broad consumer and business orientation. It has also been known for distinctive employee benefits, including a round-the-clock staff cafeteria, childcare support, and, at certain periods, the option for some employees to receive salaries in bitcoin. International expansion has included the use of the Z.com domain, acquired from Nissan in 2014, as a global-facing brand asset. GMO remains an active, diversified Japanese internet group whose infrastructure businesses form the core of its identity.
History
GMO Internet's corporate history began in May 1991, when Masatoshi Kumagai established Voice Media Inc. The company was initially a multimedia business, but its strategic direction changed as commercial internet services developed in Japan. In November 1995, it became interQ Inc. and concentrated increasingly on internet access and service infrastructure. The company changed its name to Global Media Online, Inc. in April 2001. This name reflected a broader internet orientation and accompanied the development of services connected with online access, domains, hosting, and related digital businesses. On June 1, 2005, it adopted the name GMO Internet, Inc., aligning the corporate identity with the GMO brand used across its expanding portfolio. GMO developed a particularly strong position in Japanese domain registration and web hosting. Its operating brands included Onamae.com, Muu Muu Domain, VALUE-DOMAIN, and Z.com for domains, as well as LOLIPOP!, XREA, CORE SERVER.JP, Onamae.com rental servers, and cloud or public-server offerings for hosting. Its connectivity businesses included InterQ, ZERO, Bekkoame, and GMO Tokutoku BB. Through GMO GlobalSign, the group also built an international digital-security presence focused on SSL certificates and related authentication services. The group expanded beyond infrastructure into online payments, advertising, media, consumer research, e-commerce, securities, foreign exchange, mobile entertainment, and cryptocurrency. GMO Payment Gateway and GMO Epsilon became important payment-related operations, while GMO Financial Holdings and associated businesses supported online trading services. The group's media and advertising portfolio included companies and brands serving digital marketing, content, shopping, research, and consumer audiences. In November 2013, GMO Internet acquired Gamepot, an online-game company associated with the Wizardry property. Gamepot was later closed as an independent operation and absorbed into GMO Internet on December 1, 2017. In October 2020, Drecom announced the acquisition of Wizardry from GMO Internet, illustrating the continuing reorganization of the group's entertainment assets. International branding became a visible part of the group's strategy when GMO acquired the Z.com domain from Nissan in 2014. The company described the acquisition as a way to support overseas growth and create a memorable global brand. GMO also developed cryptocurrency-related activities, including GMO Coin, alongside other financial and technology services. On September 1, 2022, the company began using its current corporate name, GMO Internet Group, Inc. The change clarified the distinction between the central holding company and the many businesses operating under the GMO umbrella. The group has been described as comprising more than one hundred companies worldwide, including multiple listed subsidiaries. Its corporate culture and public identity have been associated with the slogan "Internet for Everyone" and with unusual employee benefits such as a 24-hour cafeteria, childcare support, and, for some employees and at certain times, bitcoin salary options. Today, GMO Internet Group is best understood as a diversified Japanese internet conglomerate. Its foundational businesses remain domains, hosting, connectivity, cloud services, and digital security, while payment processing, online finance, media, advertising, entertainment, research, and cryptocurrency broaden the group’s commercial scope.
- 2022
Current corporate name begins
[1]The company adopts the name GMO Internet Group, Inc. on September 1.
- 2020
Wizardry is transferred to Drecom
[1]Drecom announces its acquisition of Wizardry from GMO Internet.
- 2017
Gamepot is integrated
[1]Gamepot is shut down as a separate company and absorbed into GMO Internet on December 1.
- 2014
Z.com domain acquisition
[1]GMO Internet acquires Z.com from Nissan for use in international branding and expansion.
- 2013
Gamepot acquisition
[1]GMO Internet acquires online-game company Gamepot.
- 2005
The company becomes GMO Internet
[1]Global Media Online changes its name to GMO Internet, Inc. on June 1.
- 2001
The Global Media Online identity is adopted
[1]The company changes its name to Global Media Online, Inc.
- 1995
The company becomes interQ
[1]The company changes its name to interQ Inc. and shifts its focus toward internet and service infrastructure.
- 1991
Voice Media Inc. is founded
[1]Masatoshi Kumagai establishes Voice Media Inc. in Japan.
Products and positioning
A diversified Japanese internet group built around essential digital infrastructure, with additional businesses in payments, online finance, advertising, media, entertainment, and cryptocurrency.
Domain registration and hosting
Onamae.com
A major GMO consumer-facing brand for domain registration in Japan, also associated with rental-server and related hosting services.
Domain registration
Muu Muu Domain
A GMO domain-registration service positioned for individuals, small businesses, and users seeking accessible domain management.
Global internet services brand · 2014
Z.com
A global-facing brand built around the short Z.com domain acquired from Nissan in 2014. GMO used it to support international internet-service expansion.
Web hosting
LOLIPOP!
A consumer-oriented shared-hosting brand in GMO's web-infrastructure portfolio, serving websites and online projects in Japan.
Digital security
GlobalSign
GMO's international certificate and digital-trust brand, providing SSL certificates and related authentication and security services.
Payment services
GMO Payment Gateway
A group payment-services business supporting electronic commerce and merchants with online payment processing and related financial infrastructure.
Cryptocurrency
GMO Coin
A cryptocurrency-service business within the GMO group, extending the company's financial-services portfolio into digital assets.
Controversies
2026
GMO Internet Investigates Onamae Cloud Service Data Breach
GMO Internet stated that it was verifying customer data allegedly posted by suspected hackers following unauthorized access to its Onamae cloud desktop service. The company said that 27,000 servers may be affected and advised customers to reset their passwords. The full extent of the incident remained unclear.
Marketing campaigns
- 2014Z.com global branding strategy
International
GMO acquired the highly memorable Z.com domain and presented it as a platform for global growth and international brand development.
Outcome. Z.com became a prominent international-facing identity within GMO's internet-services portfolio.
Brand decisions
2022
Rename the holding company GMO Internet GroupStrategyBackground
The corporate structure had expanded into a broad group of infrastructure, financial, media, entertainment, and other businesses.
Action taken
The company changed its name from GMO Internet, Inc. to GMO Internet Group, Inc.
Aftermath
The new name more clearly represented the company's role as the central holding company of the GMO group.
2014
Acquire Z.com for international expansionStrategyBackground
GMO sought a distinctive global identity for its overseas internet-services activities.
Action taken
The group acquired the Z.com domain from Nissan and designated it as a global branding asset.
Aftermath
The acquisition gave GMO a short, internationally recognizable web address for selected global initiatives.
Acquisition price. US$6.8 million (2014)
1995
Shift toward internet infrastructureStrategyBackground
The original multimedia company was operating during the rapid development of commercial internet services in Japan.
Action taken
After becoming interQ, the company focused increasingly on internet access and service infrastructure.
Aftermath
This became the foundation for GMO's later domain, hosting, connectivity, and security businesses.
Recent events
Reported
GMO apologizes for security breaches and announces customer compensation[6]
GMO Internet Group apologized for security breaches linked to cyberattacks that exposed information and led to transactions customers did not recall making. The company said it would compensate losses, pay all customers 5,000 yen, switch to a new security system, and take steps to prevent a recurrence.
GMO Internet Group apologizes over cyberattack and security failures[5]
At a press conference, GMO Internet Group President Masatoshi Kumagai apologized to customers and related parties over a cyberattack on its Onamae.com Desktop Cloud service. He acknowledged that specialists within the group had identified security problems about two years earlier, but the warnings had not been adequately addressed.
Reported
GMO Internet Group apologizes after unauthorized system access[4]
GMO Internet Group apologized after its automated foreign exchange margin trading system was accessed without authorization. The group also said the chairman's monthly compensation would be reduced by 30% for three months.
Reported
GMO Internet investigates Onamae cloud service data breach[3]
GMO Internet said it was verifying customer data allegedly posted by suspected hackers after unauthorized access to its Onamae cloud desktop service. The company said 27,000 servers may be affected and advised customers to reset their passwords; the full extent of the incident remained unclear.
Sources7 sources
- 1GMO Interneten.wikipedia.org
- 2GMO Internet Group corporate informationgmo.jp
- 3GMO Internet Investigates Onamae Cloud Service Data Breachtechcrunch.com
- 4GMO Internet Investigates Onamae Cloud Service Data Breachasia.nikkei.com
- 5GMO Internet Investigates Onamae Cloud Service Data Breachnewsonjapan.com
- 6GMO Internet Investigates Onamae Cloud Service Data Breachclickorlando.com
- 7Japanese Online Service Company GMO Apologizes For Security Breaches And Promises Compensationtheyeshivaworld.com
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