Stripe and private equity firm Advent International have reportedly submitted a joint proposal to acquire PayPal in a transaction valued at more than $53 billion, potentially marking one of the largest fintech acquisitions in recent years.
The proposal values PayPal at $60.50 per share, representing a premium of roughly 28% over the company’s latest closing price before news of the bid emerged. The offer is reportedly backed by approximately $50 billion in committed bank financing.
Neither Stripe nor PayPal has publicly confirmed the discussions. Advent declined to comment, while Stripe and PayPal have not issued statements on the reported proposal. As with many large mergers and acquisitions, there is no assurance the negotiations will result in a completed transaction.
Proposal would keep PayPal as a single company
The reported structure would see Stripe and Advent jointly acquire PayPal rather than divide its operations. Under the proposal, both firms would hold equal ownership stakes if the transaction moves forward.
Reported highlights of the proposal include:
- $60.50 per share offer for PayPal
- Transaction value of more than $53 billion
- Around $50 billion in committed financing
- 50-50 ownership between Stripe and Advent
- PayPal would remain a single operating company
The proposal follows earlier reports that Stripe had explored acquisition opportunities involving PayPal during the first half of the year.
Bid comes as PayPal continues its restructuring
The reported offer arrives during a period of significant change for PayPal, which has been reshaping its business amid slower growth and increasing competition across digital payments.
The company has faced pressure from rival payment platforms and digital wallets while working to improve operating performance following a sharp decline from its pandemic-era valuation.
Earlier this year, PayPal reorganized its business into three operating divisions focused on checkout services, Venmo consumer financial products, and payments and crypto. The restructuring is intended to streamline operations and prioritize long-term growth initiatives.
Combined business could strengthen payments and stablecoin operations
If completed, the acquisition would combine Stripe’s merchant payments infrastructure with PayPal’s consumer payments ecosystem, creating one of the largest digital payments companies globally. The combined company could also accelerate the adoption of stablecoin payment solutions across e-commerce, cross-border transfers, and digital commerce.
The combination would expand the companies’ presence across several areas:
- Merchant payment processing
- Online checkout solutions
- Cross-border payments
- Peer-to-peer payment services
- Stablecoin-powered payment infrastructure
Both companies have increased their investments in blockchain-based payments. Stripe has expanded its stablecoin capabilities through recent acquisitions and raised $14.6 million in an undisclosed funding round backed by Robinhood on March 17, 2026, while PayPal continues developing PYUSD, its U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin for digital payments and commerce.
Bringing these businesses together could strengthen their ability to compete as stablecoins become more integrated into mainstream payment networks. Stripe’s expanding regulated infrastructure following the news that Stripe Bridge obtained a MiCA license, combined with PayPal’s PYUSD ecosystem, could accelerate stablecoin payment adoption across Europe and global markets.
Regulatory review would be a key consideration
Any formal acquisition would likely undergo extensive antitrust and regulatory scrutiny because of the companies’ positions in global digital payments. Authorities would be expected to examine the impact on competition across merchant acquiring, online checkout, digital wallets, and payment infrastructure before any transaction could proceed.
