VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Japan will be setting out rules this week on how it would treat bitcoin under its existing rules. This is seen as the country's first step in dealing with the digital currency after the closure of Mt. Gox, Reuters reported.

Tokyo, Japan-based Bitcoin exchange Mt Gox set up a call center to deal with the inquiries of Bitcoin users after it lost $473 million worth of the digital currency and filed for bankruptcy protection.

After shuttering its operations this week, Tokyo-based Bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox told reporters that it will be seeking bankruptcy protection, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Paris, France-based event planning mobile app WePopp paired up with San Francisco, US-based restaurant booking app OpenTable to integrate restaurant booking service into the steps required to plan for a given event.

Sony will shut down two-thirds of its retail outlets located across the US, with 11 out of the 31 stores near major markets to remain open, as part of its move to offload unprofitable units and reduce liabilities.

Japan-based mobile messaging app Line will launch an open sticker marketplace called Line Creators Market in April and will also release a Skype-like service in five countries.

Tokyo, Japan-based staffing firm Outsourcing Inc invested $5 million (INR30 crore) for a majority stake in Bangalore, India-based search and staffing company Alp Consulting Ltd to gain access to the Indian market.

Makati, Philippines-based real estate investment firm Ayala Land Inc (ALI) bought out the 40% holding of Tokyo, Japan-based trading giant Mitsubishi Corp in Philippine Integrated Energy Solutions Inc (PhilEnergy) for an undisclosed amount.

Menlo Park, US-based social media giant Facebook will be kicking off its yearly Hacker Cup competition at the company's head office today with 25 participants from North America, Asia, and Europe.

Philippines-based Aboitiz Equity Ventures property unit Aboitiz Land Inc had purchased the remaining 40% of common shares from Maurbeni, Japanese trading firm, worth 360 million from LiMA Land Inc (LLI). LiMA Land is the company that owns and runs the LiMA Technology Center, the filing detailed from Philippine Stock Exchange. .

Tokyo,Japan-based Internet services firm Rakuten will launch a beta version of the Singapore-based streaming video platform Viki in Japan tomorrow, just five months after the Japanese bought the platform for $200 million.

Tokyo, Japan-based Internet services company Rakuten Inc opened its first European research and development (R&D) facility in Paris, France, which is called the Rakuten Institute of Technology.

Tokyo, Japan-based electronics giant Sony surpassed its sales target for the PlayStation 4 by selling 5.3 million units worldwide just three months after the latest game console went on sale.

Bitstamp and BTC-E paused Bitcoin withdrawal from their exchanges starting last week because of a potential glitch but have already resumed withdrawals while Mt Gox, the biggest Bitcoin exchange, still remains closed until now.

State-backed fund Innovation Network Corp of Japan (INCJ) entered an agreement to pick up a 20% stake in Kyoto-based robotic hand maker Squse Inc for JPY500 million ($4.9 million), according to three sources familiar with the matter.