In a move that I think no-one saw coming, Prosper announce a JV with a Japanese financial services conglomerate, with a view to launch in Japan, and then exploring other Asian markets.  I would imaging that Korea might be next on that list, since I note that SBI has some hooks in that market.

Finextra: Prosper forms JV with SBI for Japan launch

Prosper, America’s first people-to-people lending marketplace, and SBI Holdings, a holding company for SBI Group, the financial innovation leader of Japan, today announced an agreement to form a joint venture to facilitate the launch of Prosper in Japan and explore other Asian markets.

Technorati Tags: prosper, social+lending, Japan