CEO's Message

Enriching and Enhancing the Internet

Since its founding in December 1995, GMO Internet Group has been committed to the mission of "Internet for Everyone." By focusing our management resources on providing internet platforms, we have contributed to making the internet richer and more convenient. Today, our business has expanded to include internet infrastructure, internet security, internet advertising & media, internet finance, and cryptocurrency.

I first encountered the internet in 1994 through a small newspaper article. At that moment, I was convinced that it would transform our lives and become a fundamental part of society. Driven by this belief, I launched my business, offering services with overwhelming value in price and performance. Today, GMO Internet Group holds the top market share in internet infrastructure in Japan, serving 17.38 million customers. We continue to grow alongside our 114 group companies, including 10 publicly listed companies, and approximately 8,000 partners.

As a result, the total number of customers of the Internet Infrastructure Segment, Finance businesses and Cryptoassets businesses reached about 16.69 million. And we have grown into a comprehensive Internet group made up of 114 group companies centered around 10 listed companies run by 7,565 group partners.

A safer future for Everyone

However, the internet that we envisioned and worked to expand—a place where everyone could find happiness—is now under threat. Hardly a day goes by without news of cyberattacks. The fact that anyone could fall victim at any time deeply concerns me.

At GMO Internet Group, approximately 1,100 out of our 8,000 partners are engaged in security-related businesses. We provide services based on three key pillars:

Preventing Eavesdropping, Tampering, and Identity Theft & Strengthening Login Authentication (SSL & encryption security)
Cyberattack Countermeasures (cybersecurity)
Impersonation Monitoring & Removal Support (brand security)
To leverage our world-class security technology and restore a safe internet environment, we have launched the "GMO will protect your Internet Security " project.

As the first initiative, we introduced "GMO Security 24," the world's first comprehensive internet security service. This service provides:

(1) Password leakage diagnosis
(2) Web risk diagnosis
(3) Security Consultation AI

All of these services are available 24/7 at no cost.

For our second initiative, we hosted the "GMO Cybersecurity Conference & Awards"—one of Japan's largest security events—where government officials and industry professionals share their insights.

To realize our vision of "A safer future for Everyone" we are dedicated to raising security awareness and ensuring that those in need can utilize our services. Protecting Japan’s internet is our mission.

Towards the Second Half of the Internet Revolution

The internet revolution began in 1995 with the release of Windows 95. Then, in 2022—exactly halfway through its journey—the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT marked the rapid expansion of AI in society. I firmly believe that AI will drive the second half of this revolution.

To take AI to the next level, we need to give it a "body"—and that body is robots. AI and robotics are a perfect match. To support their integration and adoption, we established "GMO AI & Robotics Corporation" in June 2024. By equipping AI with robotic bodies, we aim to address Japan’s pressing issue of population decline. However, security remains an essential aspect of this future. By combining our expertise in security with robotics, we will ensure a safe and reliable AI-powered world.

Creating Smiles and Inspiration for Our Customers While Contributing to Society

The world is undergoing a major transformation with the automation brought by IoT, AI, and robotics, as well as new economic activities driven by cryptocurrency. The fusion of the internet and AI will continue to give rise to innovative services, making our lives even richer and more convenient.

In this era of change, our mission is to create an environment where everyone can use the internet safely. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and speed, we will continue to build our own solutions, delivering overwhelmingly No.1 services that bring joy to our customers and contribute to a secure future for all.

With the goal of creating smiles and inspiration for our customers while making a positive impact on society, we will remain fully committed to our mission. We sincerely appreciate your continued support.

March 2025

Founder, Chairman and Group CEO

Masatoshi Kumagai