Will Stripe acquire Paypal in 2026?

As of July 17, 2026, Stripe has not acquired PayPal, but a major acquisition bid is actively pending. Stripe and private equity firm Advent International submitted a joint unsolicited offer valued at over $53 billion ($60.50 per share) in early July, formalized around July 15. The bid is backed by approximately $50 billion in committed bank financing and proposes a 50/50 joint ownership structure that would take PayPal private. This represents a 28% premium over PayPal's closing price prior to the news, signaling a serious attempt to reshape the fintech industry.

However, critical obstacles remain that prevent the deal from being confirmed. PayPal's board has explicitly viewed the offer as inadequate, citing concerns that it undervalues the company and faces substantial regulatory and financing hurdles. Reports indicate PayPal has been reluctant to engage with the bidders, and a deal appears unlikely at the proposed valuation according to the Financial Times. Prominent shareholder Michael Burry has also rejected the price, calling it "insulting" and valuing PayPal between $75 and $115 per share, which could complicate shareholder approval even if the board agrees.

The timeline is tight but potentially feasible for a 2026 resolution. Negotiators are pushing for an agreement by the end of July 2026, with PayPal's board expected to meet on July 20 to consider the offer. While prediction markets like Polymarket currently estimate an 80% probability of the deal closing, the current market price for this specific event reflects a lower probability of roughly 33% for "Yes," suggesting a divergence between general deal sentiment and the specific likelihood of a controlling acquisition by Stripe alone before year-end [current market data]. The primary risks involve antitrust scrutiny over merchant market concentration and the potential for the price to be renegotiated upward.