TOKYO, Jan. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kouji Eguchi; NASDAQ: MRM, MEDIROM or the “Company”), announces that the cumulative number of Proof of Human authentications using the World ID authentication device ‘Orb’ at stores centered on the relaxation salon “Re.Ra.Ku,” operated by its subsidiary MEDIROM Wellness Co., surpassed 20,000 as of December 28, 2025. The Company participates in World (a Proof of Human authentication protocol), ...

Core Viewpoint - MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. is collaborating with Tools for Humanity and World Foundation to implement Proof of Human technologies, such as World ID, across Japan, aiming to enhance trust in digital interactions and create new revenue streams [2][3][4]. Group 1: Collaboration and Agreements - MEDIROM has signed a Master Service Agreement (MSA) with Tools for Humanity and World Foundation to manage Proof of Human verification locations in Japan, which is expected to generate revenue through operational fees and related services [3]. - A dedicated task force, the "MEDIROM World Proof of Human Task Force," will be established to facilitate the nationwide rollout of Proof of Human technology [3][5]. Group 2: Background and Purpose - The collaboration addresses the challenge of distinguishing between humans and AI online, leveraging blockchain technology to provide a secure method for individuals to prove their humanity without disclosing their identity [4]. - The initiative aims to foster a digital society where everyone can participate confidently, enhancing the social implementation of Proof of Human [5]. Group 3: Key Initiatives - MEDIROM will deploy advanced cameras, known as Orbs, in approximately 300 Re.Ra.Ku Group locations to verify humanness while preserving privacy [6]. - Plans include establishing flagship locations and pop-up stores to enhance accessibility to Proof of Human verification services [11]. Group 4: Leadership Comments - Koji Eguchi, President and CEO of MEDIROM, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, emphasizing the importance of establishing a social infrastructure for proving humanness in the age of generative AI [7]. - Tomoe Makino, General Manager of Tools for Humanity Japan, highlighted Japan's leadership in adopting technology and the potential of Proof of Human as essential digital infrastructure [12].

Core Viewpoint - MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. is collaborating with Tools for Humanity and World Foundation to implement Proof of Human technologies, such as World ID, across Japan, aiming to enhance trust in digital interactions and create new revenue streams [2][3][4]. Group 1: Collaboration and Agreements - MEDIROM has signed a Master Service Agreement (MSA) with Tools for Humanity and World Foundation to manage Proof of Human verification locations in Japan, which is expected to generate revenue through operational fees and related services [3]. - A dedicated task force, the "MEDIROM World Proof of Human Task Force," will be established to facilitate the nationwide rollout of Proof of Human technology [3][5]. Group 2: Background and Purpose - The collaboration addresses the challenge of distinguishing between humans and AI online, leveraging blockchain technology to provide a secure method for individuals to prove their humanity without disclosing their identity [4]. - The initiative aims to foster a digital society where individuals can confidently participate, enhancing trust in online interactions [5][12]. Group 3: Key Initiatives - MEDIROM will deploy advanced cameras, known as Orbs, in approximately 300 Re.Ra.Ku Group locations to verify humanness while preserving privacy [6]. - Plans include establishing flagship locations and pop-up stores to offer Proof of Human verification services in various commercial and public spaces [11]. Group 4: Leadership Comments - Koji Eguchi, President and CEO of MEDIROM, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, emphasizing the importance of establishing a social infrastructure for proving humanness in the age of generative AI [7]. - Tomoe Makino, General Manager of Tools for Humanity Japan, highlighted Japan's leadership in adopting technology and the potential of Proof of Human as essential digital infrastructure [12].

Core Viewpoint - MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. is collaborating with Tools for Humanity and World Foundation to implement Proof of Human technologies, including World ID, across Japan, aiming to enhance trust in digital interactions and create new revenue streams for the company [2][3][4]. Group 1: Collaboration Details - MEDIROM has signed a Master Service Agreement with Tools for Humanity and World Foundation to manage Proof of Human verification locations in Japan, leveraging its network of approximately 300 physical locations [3][5]. - A dedicated task force, the "MEDIROM World Proof of Human Task Force," will be established to facilitate the nationwide rollout of this technology [3][5]. Group 2: Background and Purpose - The collaboration addresses the challenge of distinguishing between humans and AI online, which has become increasingly difficult due to advancements in generative AI [4]. - The World project aims to provide a blockchain-based mechanism for individuals to prove their humanity without revealing their identity, thereby fostering trust in digital environments [4][5]. Group 3: Key Initiatives - MEDIROM plans to expand its reach by establishing flagship locations and pop-up stores for Proof of Human verification services, enhancing accessibility for users [7][9]. - The company will utilize advanced camera technology, known as Orbs, to verify humanness at approximately 300 Re.Ra.Ku Group locations [9]. Group 4: Leadership Comments - Koji Eguchi, President and CEO of MEDIROM, expressed excitement about the collaboration, emphasizing the importance of establishing a social infrastructure for proving one's humanity in the digital age [6]. - Tomoe Makino, General Manager of Tools for Humanity Japan, highlighted Japan's leadership in adopting technology and the potential of Proof of Human as essential digital infrastructure [11].

Core Insights - Eightco Holdings Inc. is reinforcing its "Power of Eight" initiative, aiming to verify 8 billion humans and target 800 million Worldcoin (WLD) tokens [1][3] - The company has surpassed 17 million verified humans and aims to reach 100 million in the next twelve months [1][3] - The "Chairman's Message" video series will be produced monthly to raise awareness about Worldcoin and its treasury strategy [2][3] Company Strategy - Eightco Holdings has closed a $270 million PIPE financing on September 9th, which supports its treasury strategy for Worldcoin [1][2] - The company is focused on creating substantial value, projecting a target value of $10 per WLD token, leading to an $8 billion potential valuation for ORBS [2][3] - The World ID is positioned as a universal single sign-on for various sectors, including government, fintech, and gaming, as the demand for Proof of Human increases [3] Upcoming Initiatives - Chairman Dan Ives will embark on the ORBS World Tour to promote Worldcoin, with stops in cities like San Francisco, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and London [5]

Group 1 - Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:ORBS) experienced a significant rebound, rising 15.56% to close at $12.55 after a three-day decline, driven by investor bargain-hunting [1][3] - The company raised $270 million through a private placement with institutional investors, which will be used to establish a treasury of Worldcoin tokens [2] - In addition to Worldcoin, Eightco Holdings plans to hold cash and acquire Ethereum coins as secondary reserve assets [3] Group 2 - Worldcoin, co-founded by Sam Altman, aims to verify human identity using iris-scanning technology, addressing challenges in the digital era and promoting global financial inclusion [4] - The Chairman of Eightco Holdings, Dan Ives, emphasized the importance of "Proof of Human" in the AI revolution, highlighting the company's role in providing trust and verification as AI becomes more integrated into daily life [5]

Core Viewpoint - Eightco Holdings Inc. has successfully closed a $270 million private placement to implement a unique Worldcoin treasury strategy, aiming to enhance its position in the AI and digital identity space [1][3]. Group 1: Company Developments - Dan Ives has been appointed as the Chairman of the Board, emphasizing the importance of "Proof of Human" in the AI revolution and the company's strategic positioning [1][3]. - The private placement was led by MOZAYYX, with significant participation from various institutional investors, including BitMine Immersion, which contributed $20 million [2][3]. - The company plans to use the proceeds primarily to acquire and hold Worldcoin (WLD) as its treasury reserve asset, while also considering cash and Ethereum (ETH) as secondary reserves [3]. Group 2: Market Positioning - Worldcoin aims to create a trusted digital identity system through its proprietary iris-scanning technology, addressing future security and identity challenges [5][6]. - The Orbs, which are the hardware backbone of Worldcoin, are designed to verify unique humans and distribute tokens fairly, positioning World as a leading verification platform globally [6]. Group 3: Stock and Trading Information - The Nasdaq trading symbol for Eightco Holdings Inc. will change to "ORBS" effective September 11, 2025, with no other corporate actions affecting shareholder rights [4].

Core Points - MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. has partnered with Hakuhodo Inc. to promote the adoption of World ID in Japan, a protocol designed to verify human authenticity in the AI era [3][4] - The collaboration aims to install the "Orb" verification device in approximately 100 Re.Ra.Ku relaxation salons, with a target of issuing 500,000 new World IDs annually by the end of December 2025 [5][12] Company Overview - MEDIROM operates over 300 relaxation salons under the "Re.Ra.Ku" brand and has expanded into HealthTech, offering various health-related services and products [19] - Hakuhodo will provide planning and operational support as a flagship partner in the domestic expansion of the World project [12] - Tools for Humanity (TFH) is responsible for providing the World technology, platform operation, and security supervision, ensuring user privacy and control [12][16] Technology and Implementation - World ID is a global personal authentication technology that aims to provide digital proof of human identity, especially in a landscape increasingly populated by generative AI [9] - The "Orb" device utilizes advanced camera technology to verify individuals' humanness without compromising their identity [9][10] - Once verified, users can store their World ID in the "World App," allowing access to various compatible services [10] Market Context - The initiative is part of a broader global effort to build tools that help humanity adapt to the AI era, increasing online trust by distinguishing between humans and AI [8] - The project is co-founded by notable figures in the tech industry, including Sam Altman, aiming to create a new economic system where only verified humans can access certain services [8]

Vision & Potential - The technology has a meaningful shot at reaching internet scale [1] - If it achieves internet scale, its impact will extend beyond just identity [1] - The early vision of a real human network with built-in financial primitives could become one of the most valuable networks [2] Core Idea - The concept of "proof of human" using a biometric device for internet-wide use is an original idea [2][3]