PayPal acquisition talks with Stripe and Advent intensify
Original: Talks to sell PayPal to Stripe and Advent are heating up
Why This Matters
A potential $53B PayPal acquisition would be one of the largest fintech consolidations in history.
Negotiations to sell PayPal to Stripe and private equity firm Advent are accelerating, with a deal potentially closing within weeks. An earlier offer of $60.50/share ($53B valuation) was rejected by PayPal in July, but talks reportedly never ceased, per the Wall Street Journal.
According to the Wall Street Journal, acquisition talks between PayPal, Stripe, and private equity firm Advent International are heating up, with sources indicating a deal could materialize within weeks. In July 2026, Stripe and Advent jointly offered $60.50 per share for PayPal, valuing the company at approximately $53 billion. PayPal initially rejected the offer. Both PayPal and Stripe declined to comment on the renewed negotiations.
The discussions come amid a broader turnaround effort by PayPal CEO Enrique Lores, who joined from HP in March 2026. In April, Lores announced a restructuring plan that divided PayPal into three business units: checkout solutions, consumer financial services (including Venmo), and payment services and crypto. The plan also includes a workforce reduction of approximately 20% over the next two to three years. In May, Lores told investors PayPal would refocus on "becoming a technology company again." PayPal, founded in 1998 by Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Max Levchin, and others, has struggled since its pandemic-era growth peak subsided.