Stripe is reportedly eyeing deal to buy some or all of PayPal | TechCrunch
TechCrunch
by Dominic-Madori DavisFebruary 24, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Stripe, a leading fintech company, is reportedly exploring a potential acquisition of PayPal or portions of it, according to sources cited by Bloomberg. This comes as Stripe unveiled its latest annual valuation, which surged to $159 billion—an impressive 74% increase from last year. The deal discussions are still in early stages, with no certainty they will materialize.
The news follows Stripe’s recent investor letter, which revealed plans for a significant stock buyback and highlighted strong investor interest from prominent firms like Andreessen Horowitz and Thrive Capital. Stripe’s co-founder and CEO, Patrick Collison, has previously expressed that going public is not a near-term priority. Meanwhile, PayPal, currently valued at around $40 billion, saw its stock rise slightly after the acquisition rumors surfaced.
This potential deal could reshape the payments landscape, as both companies are key players in digital payments and financial services. If successful, it would mark one of the largest tech acquisitions in recent history and further solidify Stripe’s position as a dominant force in fintech. The outcome of these negotiations will be closely watched by industry observers and investors alike.
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Originally published on TechCrunch on 2/24/2026