Stripe Considering PayPal Acquisition: A $159 Billion Deal That Could Revolutionize Stablecoins

The fintech world just experienced a seismic shift. According to a Bloomberg report published on February 24, 2026, Stripe, the Irish-American online payments giant, is seriously considering acquiring all or part of PayPal. If this deal materializes, it would unite two of the world’s largest digital payments players, with major implications for the stablecoin and cryptocurrency ecosystem.

This announcement comes at a time when Stripe is displaying a record valuation of $159 billion, up a spectacular 74% in one year. On the other side, PayPal is going through a difficult period, with its stock having lost 80% of its value since its 2021 highs. What does this potential merger mean for the future of crypto payments?

Stripe at $159 Billion: The Meteoric Rise of a Giant

Stripe’s latest secondary offering, announced on February 24, 2026, values the company at $159 billion. This transaction, which allows investors to purchase shares from employees, marks an impressive progression from the $91.5 billion valuation in February 2025.

Investors participating in this round include prestigious names: Thrive Capital, Coatue, Andreessen Horowitz, as well as Stripe itself. This confidence from the biggest tech investment funds demonstrates the strength of the business model built by brothers Patrick and John Collison.

Staggering Numbers

In 2025, Stripe processed a transaction volume of $1.9 trillion, confirming its dominant position in the online payments sector. The company has become essential for millions of businesses, from startups to e-commerce giants.

Stripe’s Crypto Offensive: Bridge, Tempo and Beyond

What makes this potential acquisition particularly strategic is Stripe’s growing involvement in the cryptocurrency space. The company has multiplied initiatives to position itself as a key player in decentralized finance.

The $1.1 Billion Bridge Acquisition

In 2024, Stripe made one of the most significant acquisitions in crypto history by purchasing Bridge for $1.1 billion. This stablecoin orchestration platform enables businesses and crypto projects to issue their own dollar-backed tokens.

The results are spectacular: according to Stripe’s latest figures, Bridge’s volume has more than quadrupled since the acquisition. This explosive growth demonstrates market appetite for professional and reliable stablecoin payment solutions.

Tempo: Stripe’s In-House Blockchain

Stripe isn’t just integrating existing solutions. In partnership with venture capital firm Paradigm, the company is developing Tempo, its own blockchain dedicated to payments. Currently in testing phase, this network could revolutionize international transactions by offering instant, low-cost transfers.

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PayPal and PYUSD: A Crypto War Chest

If Stripe is eyeing PayPal, it’s also for its already well-established crypto infrastructure. In 2022, PayPal launched PYUSD, its own dollar-pegged stablecoin, in partnership with regulated issuer Paxos.

PYUSD: $4 Billion Market Cap

PayPal’s stablecoin quickly conquered the market, reaching a market cap of $4 billion. It allows users to transfer dollars across crypto networks around the clock, often at lower costs than traditional bank transfers.

Integrating PYUSD into the Stripe ecosystem would create a digital payments behemoth, combining PayPal’s massive user base (over 400 million active accounts) with Stripe’s cutting-edge technical infrastructure.

A PayPal Stock in Trouble

Despite these assets, PayPal is going through a complicated period. The stock has lost 80% of its value since the all-time highs reached in 2021, during post-Covid euphoria. However, the announcement of discussions with Stripe triggered a 7% rebound in the stock at market close on February 24.

This prolonged decline makes PayPal more vulnerable to a takeover bid, even though the company remains a major player with annual revenues of tens of billions of dollars.

The Stablecoin Boom: $400 Billion Volume in 2025

This potential merger fits into a context of explosive growth in stablecoin payments. According to data compiled by Stripe, the global volume of stablecoin payments doubled in 2025 to reach approximately $400 billion.

B2B: The Growth Engine

Notably, 60% of this volume comes from B2B (business-to-business) payments. Companies are increasingly using stablecoins to settle with international suppliers, attracted by transaction speed and reduced fees compared to traditional banking systems.

This shift toward professional stablecoins explains the strategic interest in a Stripe-PayPal merger. Together, these two giants could dominate the digital payments market, whether in traditional currency or crypto.

Implications for the Crypto Ecosystem

If this acquisition materializes, the repercussions would be considerable for the entire cryptocurrency and fintech industry.

Stablecoin Market Consolidation

The combination of PYUSD, Bridge, and Tempo would create the world’s largest integrated stablecoin ecosystem. This entity could rival current leaders like Tether (USDT) and Circle (USDC), or even surpass them through native integration with the most widely used payment platforms.

Accelerating Mainstream Adoption

With over 400 million PayPal users and millions of Stripe business clients, a merger would give stablecoins unprecedented exposure to the general public. Users could find themselves using cryptocurrencies without even realizing it, through their everyday payments.

Pressure on Regulators

A combined entity of this size would inevitably attract the attention of global financial regulators. Authorities might be prompted to clarify the regulatory framework for stablecoins more quickly, which could paradoxically accelerate the institutionalization of these assets.

Caution: Still Preliminary Discussions

However, enthusiasm should be tempered. According to Bloomberg, discussions are at a very preliminary stage. Stripe could ultimately decide not to follow through, or PayPal could reject any approach.

A full acquisition would involve a deal worth tens of billions of dollars, likely requiring massive debt or a Stripe IPO. The company, which has remained private until now, might prefer to explore other strategic options.

Whatever happens, this rumor illustrates the inevitable convergence between traditional fintech and the cryptocurrency universe. The biggest payments players have understood that stablecoins represent the future of digital transactions, and they are positioning themselves accordingly.