What G.U. Group does

G.U. Group Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-based, privately-held blockchain infrastructure and web3 product company founded in April 2018 (originally as G.U. Labs, renamed December 2023). It is led by Co-CEOs Hidekazu Kondo and Daimei Inaba and operates through wholly-owned subsidiaries including Japan Blockchain Foundation Co., Ltd. (which manages the Japan Open Chain consortium), G.U. Technologies Inc. (stablecoin and NFT solutions), and Singapore-based G.U. Technologies Global PTE. LTD. (international operations). The group raised ¥420 million (~$2.9M) in December 2023 led by B Dash Ventures.

The company's core product is Japan Open Chain (JOC), an Ethereum-compatible Layer 1 public blockchain using Proof-of-Authority consensus, operated by a consortium of 14 (expanding to 21) Japanese corporate validators including Sony Group startup CORGEAR, Dentsu, NTT Communications, TIS, pixiv, Minna Bank, SBINFT, TV Asahi's extra mile, Hatena, CAC, Cyberlinks, Kudasai, Nethermind, Pacific Meta, and insprout. JOC is purpose-built for Japanese regulatory compliance under the revised Payment Services Act, enabling trust-bank-issued stablecoins and enterprise-grade NFT issuance at sub-1-yen per transaction with deterministic finality. The product stack extends to G.U. Coin Studio (stablecoin issuance system for banks), G.U. Blockchain Cloud (BaaS for building Ethereum-compatible consortium chains in three steps), G.U. Token Studio (no-code NFT marketplace tool), and the consumer-facing Lunascape web browser (20M+ cumulative users over 20+ years) with integrated G.U. Wallet for web3 access. Cross-chain interoperability is enabled through LayerZero and Fujitsu ConnectionChain integrations, with SubQuery providing data indexing.

G.U. Group generates revenue primarily through enterprise SaaS/licensing (G.U. Coin Studio, G.U. Blockchain Cloud), web3 consulting services to Japanese corporations, financial institutions, and local governments (clients include NTT Communications, Tokyo Kiraboshi Financial Group, Minna Bank, COGEAR/Sony, Shikoku Bank, KEIT, insprout), usage-based transaction fees on Japan Open Chain (with JOC COIN as the gas/fee token), and token sales/IEO proceeds (domestic IEO on BitTrade, second listing on Zaif in February 2026). The go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales with co-selling through technology partners (Bunzz, Fujitsu, LayerZero, double jump.tokyo's N Suite), event-driven ecosystem building (FIN/SUM, TOKEN2049, WebX, Fintech Surge), and consumer distribution via the Lunascape browser. The customer base spans financial institutions, large enterprises, local governments (e.g., Kaga City e-Kaga Citizen Certificate NFT), and consumer/SMB end users, with most enterprise relationships still in POC or pilot stage as of early 2026.

Name

G.U. Group

Legal name

G.U.Group Co., Ltd.

Website

https://gu-group.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

G.U. Group is a Tokyo-based web3 and blockchain infrastructure company that operates Japan Open Chain, an Ethereum-compatible public blockchain backed by a consortium of Japanese corporate validators, alongside stablecoin, NFT, wallet, and browser products for banks, enterprises, governments, and consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Blockchain Infrastructure

NAICS

Securities and Commodity Exchanges (52321), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320)

SIC

Finance Services (6199), Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200), Asset-Backed Securities (6189)

akta.pro primary industry

On-Chain Payments & Stablecoin Infrastructure (Issuance, Rails, Treasury) (FSAGAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Consortium Networks & Governance (network setup, onboarding, rules, node operations) (FSAPAIAB), Permissioned Blockchain Platforms & Frameworks (Hyperledger, Corda, Quorum) (FSAPAIAA), Tokenization Platforms (RWA, Securities, Funds) (FSAGAMAA), Compliance, Risk & RegTech for Tokenized Assets (KYC/AML, sanctions, travel rule, reporting) (FSAPAIAH)

Keywords

• Blockchain infrastructure
• Web3 solutions
• Stablecoin issuance
• Enterprise blockchain
• NFT marketplace tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing / SaaS (G.U. Coin Studio, G.U. Blockchain Cloud): G.U.Group derives revenue from licensing its proprietary blockchain infrastructure and web3 software products to enterprise clients. G.U. Coin Studio is sold to financial institutions for stablecoin issuance; G.U. Blockchain Cloud is a cloud service for businesses to build their own blockchains. Revenue is generated through licensing fees, platform fees, or usage-based pricing for these enterprise SaaS products.
2. Transaction Fees / Blockchain Network Fees (Japan Open Chain): Japan Open Chain generates fees for on-chain transactions including NFT issuance (under 1 yen per transaction), smart contract execution, and other blockchain actions. The JOC token functions as the fee token (Gas equivalent) compensating validators. Post-IEO, token transaction fees and potential staking rewards contribute to network economics.
3. Web3 Consulting Services (G.U. web3 Consulting): G.U.Technologies provides web3 business consulting services for companies and local governments considering blockchain/NFT/stablecoin projects. Services include project planning, business plan advisory, and system requirements definition. Clients include NTT Communications, Tokyo Kiraboshi Financial Group, Minna Bank, COGEA, insprout, KEIT, Shikoku Bank, and others.
4. Token Sales / IEO: G.U.Group conducted token sales targeted at overseas investors as part of its 420 million yen fundraising round. Japan Open Chain's native token (JOC COIN) underwent domestic IEO on BitTrade (first Japan listing) and subsequent listing on Zaif (February 2026). Token sale proceeds represent a fundraising mechanism rather than a recurring revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

G.U. Group operates Japan Open Chain, an Ethereum-compatible Layer 1 public blockchain run by a consortium of 14 major Japanese corporations, and sells an integrated web3 product suite on top of it: G.U. Coin Studio (compliant stablecoin issuance for banks), G.U. Blockchain Cloud (BaaS for enterprise blockchain deployment), G.U. Token Studio (no-code NFT marketplace tool), and consumer-facing Lunascape web browser with integrated G.U. Wallet. The company also delivers G.U. web3 Consulting services for corporations and municipalities planning blockchain, NFT, and stablecoin projects.

Product overview

G.U. Group operates as a web3 solutions provider with a platform-plus-products architecture centered on Japan Open Chain, an Ethereum-compatible blockchain infrastructure operated by consortium of Japanese companies. The product portfolio spans blockchain infrastructure (Japan Open Chain, JOC Dashboard, G.U. Blockchain Cloud), stablecoin technology (G.U. Coin Studio), consumer web3 tools (Lunascape browser, G.U. Wallet), and NFT solutions (G.U. Token Studio). The company also offers web3 business consulting services. Japan Open Chain serves as the core infrastructure powering the ecosystem, with validators including Sony Group, Dentsu, NTT, TIS, and other Japanese enterprises ensuring decentralized operation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Japan Open Chain: A practical Ethereum-compatible public blockchain operated by Japanese companies
• JOC Dashboard
• G.U. Blockchain Cloud
• Lunascape
• G.U. Wallet
• G.U. Token Studio
• G.U. Coin Studio

Products and services

• Japan Open Chain Ethereum-compatible Layer 1 public blockchain operated by consortium of Japanese companies. Designed for legal and technical practicality with high speed, low fees (under 1 yen per NFT transaction), and PoA consensus. Targets financial institutions, enterprises, and local governments for bank-issued stablecoins, enterprise NFTs, and web3 applications.
• JOC Dashboard User management interface for Japan Open Chain that provides blockchain explorers, account management, and network monitoring for JOC users and validators.
• G.U. Blockchain Cloud Blockchain building service (BaaS) for businesses to construct and manage Ethereum-compatible private or consortium blockchains. Streamlines implementation into three simple steps without requiring specialized blockchain engineers.
• G.U. Coin Studio Stablecoin issuance system for financial institutions and banks. Enables compliant stablecoin issuance and management under Japan's Banking Law and Payment Services Act (effective June 1, 2023), supporting trust-type stablecoin structures.
• Lunascape Web Browser

Quantifiable outcome

• NFT transaction fees under 1 yen per transaction
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Zaif (Zaif Inc.)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 12 February 2026Japan-based cryptocurrency exchange registered with Japan's Financial Services Agency (Director of Kinki Finance Bureau No.00001), member of JVCEA. JOC COIN second listing on a Japanese exchange following domestic IEO on BitTrade. Zaif offers services such as recurring purchases and automated trading.
• MOIN Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2026Strategic business partnership (MOU) between MOIN (global remittance fintech), G.U. Technologies Global PTE. LTD. (Japan Open Chain technology partner), and Bifrost (cross-chain infrastructure). Aims to establish a regulatory-compliant multi-currency stablecoin (KRW, JPY, EUR) issuance framework and cross-chain interoperability for safe cross-border financial infrastructure. MOIN brings 10 years of accident-free operation, AML/KYC compliance, and Korean/European financial licenses.
• BifrostcoreTechnology or Integration · 5 February 2026Cross-chain infrastructure solution company providing real-time asset issuance, remittance, and exchange functionality in multi-chain environments. In this three-way partnership, Bifrost implements real-time cross-chain communication infrastructure and develops an integrated multi-currency stablecoin platform for Japan Open Chain.
• G.U. Technologies Global PTE. LTD.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2026Singapore-based key technology partner of Japan Open Chain, signing MOU with MOIN and Bifrost. Represents G.U.Group's international presence and acts as counterparty in the MOIN/Bifrost three-way strategic partnership for Asia's financial infrastructure.
• Alchemy PayminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 21 January 2026JOC Coin available on Alchemy Pay's On-Ramp service enabling users to purchase JOC tokens directly with fiat currencies, improving accessibility and liquidity for the Japan Open Chain native token.
• extra mile Inc. (TV Asahi Group)majorTechnology or Integration · 13 August 2024Validator (blockchain co-operator) for Japan Open Chain. TV Asahi Group company joining as the 14th validator. extra mile is an innovation project by Tokyo Dome leveraging digital technology for society, combining entertainment and innovation.
• LOOTaDOG JapanminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2024Web3 dog-walking app adopted as JOC Development Partner. Plans to utilize bank-issued stablecoins and issue unique NFTs on Japan Open Chain. App aims to enhance pet-owner daily life through web3 gamification, health tracking, and community features.
• DeManga / Stafflife CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2024Digital comic platform adopted as JOC Development Partner. Issues unique tokens and NFTs on Japan Open Chain with 'Manga and Earn' concept. 4,000+ digital manga works confirmed at launch. Partnership aims to spread Japanese manga culture globally through NFT and token technology.
• MetaskymajorTechnology or Integration · 17 April 2024Web3 wallet, NFT, and community management solution provider. Integration with Japan Open Chain enables enterprise clients to use Skywallet (wallet generation, email/phone signup, MetaMask connection), Skywallet Studio (NFT creation and management), marketplace creation, token gating (Skyclub), and community engagement tools. Certified as JOC Development Partner.
• SubQuery Pte. Ltd.majorTechnology or Integration · 3 April 2024High-performance blockchain data indexer integrated with Japan Open Chain. Enables developers to efficiently query on-chain data, create custom APIs, and leverage multi-threaded data synchronization. Supports 160+ networks and provides GitHub documentation, technical support, and Discord community for JOC developers.
• LayerZero Labs Ltd.coreTechnology or Integration · 29 February 2024Cross-chain solution provider enabling Japan Open Chain to support cross-chain communication, oracle and relayer-based data integrity, cross-chain asset transactions, and flexible/expandable cross-chain application development. Test chain integration completed, with production use planned for stablecoin cross-chain payments and NFT transfers across multiple blockchains.
• double jump.tokyo Inc.majorTechnology or Integration · 1 February 2024Enterprise wallet 'N Suite' with workflow functionality completed integration with Japan Open Chain. N Suite provides enterprise-grade secret key management with security and internal controls, supporting crypto asset holding, NFT issuance, and smart contract development. Over 60 enterprise clients including listed companies and startups. double jump.tokyo also joined JOC Development Partner Program.
• ORIX Bank CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 January 2024Proof of Concept experiment partnership for trust bank-issued stablecoin issuance on Japan Open Chain, based on specific trust beneficiary rights compliant with Japan's revised Payment Services Act. This represents Japan's first bank-led stablecoin experiment under the new regulatory framework (effective June 1, 2023).
• Lunascape Wallet (integrated)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 25 January 2024Lunascape browser integrated with its native Lunascape Wallet supporting Ethereum-based blockchains including Japan Open Chain. The wallet enables direct access to DApps, Uniswap, and NFT trading platforms. The browser-wallet integration eliminates the need for separate cryptocurrency wallet app installation, simplifying user onboarding.
• ORIX Bank CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 January 2024Japan Open Chain validator and stablecoin experiment partner. ORIX Group company participating in Japan's first trust-based stablecoin proof-of-concept under the revised Payment Services Act on Japan Open Chain.
• pixiv Inc.majorTechnology or Integration · 25 January 2024Validator (blockchain co-operator) for Japan Open Chain. Major Japanese digital entertainment company operating the pixiv illustration community platform. Contributes to blockchain ecosystem diversity and creative industry web3 adoption.
• Dentsu Inc.majorTechnology or Integration · 25 January 2024Validator (blockchain co-operator) for Japan Open Chain. Japan's largest advertising and communications company, bringing marketing, branding, and media reach capabilities to the blockchain ecosystem.
• Minna Bank Ltd.majorTechnology or Integration · 25 January 2024Validator (blockchain co-operator) for Japan Open Chain. Digital bank and fintech company contributing to blockchain infrastructure and financial services innovation.
• CORGEAR Co., Ltd. (Sony Group Startup)majorTechnology or Integration · 25 January 2024Validator (blockchain co-operator) for Japan Open Chain. Sony Group startup that supported the e-Kaga Citizen Certificate NFT project. Contributed to the design of the citizen certificate NFT for Kaga City's digital residency system.
• Cyberlinks Co., Ltd.majorTechnology or Integration · 23 January 2024Validator (blockchain co-operator) for Japan Open Chain. Cyberlinks (Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard, Securities Code 3683) specializes in digital issuance of socially significant certificates. Operates 'ShareCloud' shared-use cloud service for food distribution and government agencies, with four key domains: Distribution Cloud, Government Cloud, Trust, and Mobile Network.
• Kudasai Co., Ltd.majorTechnology or Integration · 17 January 2024Validator (blockchain co-operator) for Japan Open Chain. Operator of 'KudasaiJP,' one of Japan's largest cryptocurrency communities with expertise in blockchain startup advisory, community expansion, and Web3 business support. Founded 2020, established as company 2022.
• TIS Inc.majorTechnology or Integration · 20 December 2023Validator (blockchain co-operator) for Japan Open Chain. TIS is a key member of TIS INTEC Group serving over 3,000 companies across finance, industry, public services, and distribution. Contributes to blockchain infrastructure management, transaction validation, and development of web3 services for social implementation.
• Fujitsu LimitedmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 December 2023G.U.Group (Japan Blockchain Foundation and G.U.Technologies) selected as Co-Creation Partner in Fujitsu's global 'Fujitsu Accelerator Program.' Conducting proof-of-concept experiments for cross-chain payments using stablecoins on Japan Open Chain, leveraging Fujitsu Web3 Acceleration Platform and its blockchain integration technology 'ConnectionChain.' Aims to improve interoperability between different blockchains and enable smooth asset/data movement across chains.
• Bunzz Pte LtdmajorTechnology or Integration · 28 November 2023Strategic partnership with web3 development infrastructure provider Bunzz. Japan Open Chain designated as official deployment chain for Bunzz smart contract modules. Bunzz offers consulting and technical support for system development during web3 project launch phase. Over 15,000 web3 developers and 4,500+ projects have been deployed via Bunzz. 'Bunzz for Enterprise' plan targets Japanese enterprises entering web3.
• BitTrade Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 25 October 2023Domestic cryptocurrency exchange operator registered with Japan's Financial Services Agency. Formal contract and business alliance signed for the IEO of Japan Open Chain's native token JOC COIN. BitTrade conducted the domestic IEO (first Japan listing) with subsequent plans for further domestic and international exchange listings.
• NTT Communications CorporationmajorTechnology or Integration · 27 March 2023Validator (blockchain co-operator) for Japan Open Chain. Provides blockchain infrastructure management, transaction data validation, and technical R&D to improve security, performance, and stability. Part of NTT Group's commitment to promoting web3 services that solve social issues and enable co-creation without intermediaries.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• HashPort: Japanese blockchain consulting and infrastructure company focused on enterprise tokenization, NFT platforms, and consortium chain services. Competes with G.U. Group in the Japanese enterprise blockchain consulting and consortium chain market, particularly for tokenization projects for financial institutions and government entities.
• double jump.tokyo: Tokyo-based blockchain infrastructure company specializing in NFT and game-focused chains, with the N Suite enterprise wallet integrated with Japan Open Chain. Direct peer in Japanese blockchain infrastructure with overlapping enterprise wallet and NFT tooling offerings, also a JOC Development Partner.
• Astar Network (Startale Labs): Japan-developed Layer 1 blockchain with strong Japanese enterprise and government adoption including partnerships with NTT Docomo and Toyota. Competes with Japan Open Chain for Japanese enterprise web3 workloads, particularly in NFT and DeFi use cases, though Astar is more decentralized (NPoS) versus JOC's PoA.
• Progmat (Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group): Operated by MUFG's Progmat Inc., Progmat is a competing Japanese stablecoin issuance and tokenization platform targeting bank-issued stablecoins under Japan's revised Payment Services Act. Both G.U. Group and Progmat serve the same primary buyer segment (Japanese banks and trust banks) with tokenization and stablecoin issuance infrastructure, making them the most direct head-to-head competitors in Japan's regulated stablecoin market.

Others

• JBA (Japan Blockchain Association): Japan's leading blockchain industry association including major exchanges, banks, and blockchain companies. Not a direct competitor but an ecosystem participant whose member activities and policy advocacy shape the Japanese regulatory environment in which G.U. Group operates.

Broad incumbents

• Polygon Labs: Global Ethereum Layer 2 scaling solution with deep liquidity, mature developer ecosystem, and significant Japanese enterprise partnerships. Competes with JOC for global enterprise tokenization workloads, particularly in NFT and DeFi where Polygon's deeper liquidity and tooling may be preferred over a permissioned consortium chain.
• ConsenSys: Ethereum infrastructure company behind MetaMask, Infura, and Linea (L2). Competes with G.U. Group's enterprise blockchain offerings through Linea and enterprise Ethereum tooling, particularly for Japanese banks and corporations exploring public-chain-based stablecoin and tokenization use cases.
• SBI Holdings (SBI R3 Japan, SBINFT): Major Japanese financial conglomerate with extensive crypto, NFT (SBINFT is a JOC validator), and blockchain operations. Operates crypto exchanges, custody services, and is developing proprietary tokenization infrastructure, overlapping with G.U. Group across multiple segments.

Regional players

• Oasys: Japan-focused gaming-optimized Layer 1 blockchain backed by major Japanese gaming companies (Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Sega). Competes with JOC for Japanese IP and entertainment web3 use cases including NFT and tokenized gaming assets, though Oasys's validator set and ecosystem focus more on gaming than financial services.

Emerging players

• Ava Labs (Avalanche): Avalanche's subnet architecture enables permissioned, compliant blockchain deployments similar to JOC's positioning, with several Japanese banks (including MUFG's GoSoroban) exploring Avalanche subnets for stablecoin and tokenization. Competes for the same regulated enterprise use cases in the Japanese market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/G_U_net
• Facebookfacebook.com/GULabs%E6%A0%AA%E5%BC%8F%E4%BC%9A%E7%A4%BE-106631047500552
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gugroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about G.U. Group