Payments company Stripe and private equity firm Advent International have jointly made an offer to acquire PayPal in a deal valued at more than $53 billion, Reuters reported on Wednesday. The transaction, if completed, would rank among the largest technology acquisitions in recent years and represents a significant move by Stripe, a privately held fintech startup.
The offer follows months of speculation about the deal. Stripe, which was the highest valued U.S.-based startup until recently, has raised approximately $10.4 billion since its founding in 2010. The company announced a tender offer in February valuing it at $159 billion, making it the fourth most valuable startup globally. Stripe has completed 21 acquisitions to date, including Bridge for $1.1 billion and Metronome for $1 billion, according to Crunchbase data.
The proposed acquisition is notable for its scale and unusual nature, as privately held companies rarely acquire publicly traded firms of PayPal's size. PayPal is a major player in digital payments, and the deal would significantly expand Stripe's footprint in the fintech sector. The transaction would surpass Stripe's previous largest acquisitions and reflect growing consolidation in the payments industry.
The offer was reported on July 15, 2026, with no immediate confirmation from the companies involved. Stripe's acquisition history and recent valuation moves underscore its capacity to pursue large-scale deals. The next steps will depend on regulatory approvals and negotiations between the parties, with market watchers closely monitoring developments.