PayPal in talks to sell to Stripe and Advent

PayPal Holdings Inc. is reportedly in advanced talks to sell the company to a consortium that includes payments rival Stripe and private‑equity firm Advent International. The discussions have intensified under the leadership of PayPal’s newly appointed chief executive, who took the helm in early 2024 and has been tasked with reversing a multi‑year decline in revenue and user growth. Sources familiar with the negotiations said the potential transaction would combine Stripe’s technology platform with Advent’s financial expertise to create a larger, more diversified payments entity.

The prospective deal follows a period of strategic turbulence for PayPal, marked by a 12 percent drop in quarterly revenue, a shrinking merchant base, and heightened competition from both traditional banks and fintech startups. The new CEO, who succeeded the former chief after a board‑initiated leadership change, has launched cost‑cutting measures and product‑innovation initiatives aimed at stabilizing the business. While no terms have been disclosed, analysts note that a sale could provide shareholders with a premium to current market prices and give the combined firm a stronger position in the fast‑evolving digital payments landscape.