Stripe and private equity firm Advent International have submitted a joint offer to acquire PayPal Holdings for $60.50 per share, in a deal that would value the payments company at more than $53 billion, according to reporting from Reuters. The proposal follows initial exploratory talks that began in early April. The offer, submitted earlier this month, is backed by about $50 billion in committed financing from banks, the people said, and represents around a 28% premium to PayPal’s closing share price on Tuesday. The people declined to be named as the deal discussions are confidential. Advent declined to comment, while PayPal and Stripe did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
A $53 Billion Bid for PayPal
Back in February 2026, Bloomberg reported that Stripe was exploring an acquisition of PayPal or its assets. That report alone was enough to send PayPal shares up 7% in a single session. Stripe, for its part, has the firepower. The company’s valuation reached $159 billion following a tender offering that brought in heavyweight investors like Thrive Capital and Coatue. Here’s the thing, though. As of mid-July 2026, no formal confirmation of the $60.50 per share figure or Advent’s specific participation had been publicly verified. The discussions appear to be real, but the gap between “exploratory talks” and “signed deal” in M&A is roughly the width of the Grand Canyon.
Stripe’s Crypto Ambitions Meet PayPal’s Digital Shift
Stripe has been aggressively building out its crypto infrastructure. The company acquired Bridge, a stablecoin-focused payments company, for $1.1 billion in 2025. It followed that up by scooping up Privy later in the year. PayPal has simultaneously pursued its own digital asset goals, notably through the development of PYUSD, a dollar-backed stablecoin. The offer price represents a significant premium to where PayPal was trading when acquisition rumors first surfaced in February 2026. At that point, PayPal’s market cap sat at roughly $43 billion.
Deal Structure and Uncertain Terms
The proposal follows an initial approach made in early April, the sources said. Stripe and Advent have not received a response from PayPal and are seeking to advance discussions in the coming weeks, the sources added. Under the proposal, Stripe and Advent would jointly own PayPal, with each holding an equal stake, rather than breaking up the company, the people said. There is no certainty the approach will result in a transaction, they added.
Paying the Price for a Digital Overhaul
Founded in the late 1990s, PayPal was an early player in digital payments, but has faced increasing competition as consumers have embraced alternative payment methods and rivals such as Apple Pay and Google Pay have gained market share. It has spent the past several years grappling with slowing growth. PayPal CEO Enrique Lores initiated a turnaround strategy in March. This effort included a structural reorganization in April that divided the company into three distinct units: checkout, consumer financial services Venmo, and payments and crypto.
Regulatory Hurdles and Valuation Disputes
A merger would rank among the largest fintech acquisitions in history, though it faces substantial regulatory hurdles. Combining two of the world’s largest digital payments companies would attract intense scrutiny from antitrust regulators on both sides of the Atlantic.
Uncertain Path Forward
As of mid-July 2026, no formal confirmation of the $60.50 per share figure or Advent’s specific participation had been publicly verified. The stablecoin angle changes everything, as Stripe’s crypto ambitions align with PayPal’s own digital asset initiatives. The deal, if completed, would rank among the largest fintech acquisitions in history. However, the path to a completed transaction remains unclear.
With no formal confirmation from the involved parties, the situation remains in a state of flux. The discussions remain confidential, and the industry is waiting to see if PayPal will move to engage with the offer or continue its independent turnaround efforts. The potential deal underscores the evolving landscape of digital payments, where strategic alliances and regulatory considerations will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the sector.
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