Stripe weighs acquisition of PayPal, Bloomberg reports
Fintech startup Stripe is reportedly exploring a potential acquisition of payments giant PayPal Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:PYPL, XETRA:2PP), Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The discussions are said to be in early stages, with Stripe considering either a full purchase or selective acquisition of parts of PayPal’s business.
According to Bloomberg, the deal could involve assets such as PayPal’s merchant services unit Braintree or its consumer wallet platform Venmo, rather than the entire company.
Both Stripe and PayPal declined to comment on the report.
The news comes amid renewed interest in PayPal following a sharp decline in its stock. The company has lost more than 19% of its value this year and nearly a third since 2025, as slowing growth and intensifying competition weigh on the business.
Bloomberg noted that the potential timing may be influenced by recent leadership changes at PayPal. The board removed CEO Alex Chriss, citing slow progress in transforming the company, with new CEO Enrique Lores scheduled to take over on March 1. The report suggested this transition period could make PayPal a more appealing target for a well-capitalized rival like Stripe.
A full acquisition could represent a significant realignment in the global payments industry. Stripe, recently valued at $159 billion in a private employee tender offer, now dwarfs PayPal, whose market capitalization stands near $43 billion.
PayPal shares traded hands at about $47 on Wednesday morning, little changed during the day’s session, but up almost 14% in the last five days.
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