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Short Take: Digital currency site Beenz.com snags $39.5 million

Beenz.com, a digital currency site, said today it raised $39.5 million in an additional round of financing. Making a significant push to expand globally, Beenz.com secured investments from the online arms of Italian media conglomerate Gruppo l'Espresso and Hong Kong-based New World Group, among others. U.S. investors included BayStar Capital, Sycamore Ventures, ING Barings and DRW Venture Partners. The New York-based upstart, which offers online currency to consumers that register and buy on partner sites such as Blockbuster.com and MP3.com, also raised an additional $11.9 million from investors, including Softbank, for recently launched joint ventures in Italy, Greater China, Japan and Korea.

Stefanie Olsen Staff writer, CNET News
Stefanie Olsen covers technology and science.
Stefanie Olsen
Beenz.com, a digital currency site, said today it raised $39.5 million in an additional round of financing. Making a significant push to expand globally, Beenz.com secured investments from the online arms of Italian media conglomerate Gruppo l'Espresso and Hong Kong-based New World Group, among others. U.S. investors included BayStar Capital, Sycamore Ventures, ING Barings and DRW Venture Partners. The New York-based upstart, which offers online currency to consumers that register and buy on partner sites such as Blockbuster.com and MP3.com, also raised an additional $11.9 million from investors, including Softbank, for recently launched joint ventures in Italy, Greater China, Japan and Korea.