Stripe and Advent International Reportedly Submit $53.4 Billion Bid for PayPal
AI-generated image · US National Wire
A proposed joint acquisition would merge two payment giants, combining Stripe's processing power with PayPal's massive active account base.
Stripe and private equity firm Advent International have reportedly submitted a joint bid to acquire PayPal in a deal valued at approximately $53.4 billion, according to reporting from TechCrunch. The offer, which was submitted earlier this month, is reportedly backed by roughly $50 billion in committed bank financing. Under the terms of the proposal, Stripe and Advent International would hold equal stakes in the company.
This potential merger would unite two of the most significant entities in digital payments. TechCrunch reports that PayPal handled roughly $1.8 trillion in payment volume during 2025 and serves approximately 440 million active accounts. Stripe, which saw its valuation reach $159 billion earlier this year, handled $1.9 trillion in payments during that same period.
The bid arrives during a period of transition for PayPal. CEO Enrique Lores assumed leadership in March following a profit warning. TechCrunch notes that PayPal aims to reduce expenses by at least $1.5 billion during the coming two to three years as it works to return to stronger growth, and reports suggest the company may trim its workforce by around 20%.
While reports from February indicated that Stripe had previously explored a possible takeover through preliminary discussions, no formal proposal was made at that time. As of July 15, PayPal, Stripe, and Advent International have not publicly responded to the offer or requests for comment.