Stripe and the private equity firm Advent International have made a joint offer to take PayPal private at 60.50 dollars a share, valuing the company at more than 53 billion dollars. CNBC confirmed the approach on 15 July 2026, after Reuters first reported it. PayPal shares jumped about 16 percent in premarket trading.
The bid was tabled in early July, following an initial approach in April, and carries roughly a 28 percent premium to PayPal’s prior close. It is backed by about 50 billion dollars of committed bank financing. Under the proposal, Stripe and Advent would each hold an equal stake rather than split the business between them. None of the three companies has commented and PayPal has not responded, so treat this as an unsolicited, unconfirmed bid, not a signed deal.
Update, 17 July 2026: Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that PayPal’s board views the 60.50 dollars a share offer as inadequate and believes it undervalues the company, a stance that could open negotiations over price, deal structure and regulatory risk. PayPal has still not formally responded and the board assessment is described as preliminary, so this remains reported, not confirmed.
The number that matters to merchants is not the price. It is what the combination would put under one roof. Stripe already sits behind a large share of online checkout. Add PayPal, Braintree and Venmo, and a single owner would control several of the payment service providers that today bid against each other for your volume.
Why it matters
Consolidation is a concentration risk. For high-risk merchants, fewer independent processors means fewer places to route around when one tightens its risk appetite, reprices your MCC, or offboards you. It also thins the field when you negotiate: rivals who used to undercut each other for your business may soon answer to the same owner.
The defensive playbook does not change because of a rumor. Keep a second live acquirer so no single platform can strand your revenue, and understand why your vertical is priced the way it is before you need the backup. Our processor showdown breaks down which processors actually accept adult, dating and AI verticals today, whoever ends up owning them tomorrow.
- CNBC, “Stripe, Advent make $53 billion takeover offer for PayPal, sending stock soaring,” exact page, 15 July 2026. First reported by Reuters.
- PYMNTS, “Stripe and Advent Make $53 Billion Play for PayPal,” exact page, 15 July 2026.
- The Paypers, “Stripe, Advent offer USD 53 bln for PayPal, sources say,” exact page, 15 July 2026.
- PYMNTS, “PayPal Board Calls $53 Billion Stripe-Advent Bid Inadequate,” exact page, 17 July 2026. First reported by Reuters.