PayPal, the payments giant with 440 million active accounts, may soon have new owners. Stripe and private equity firm Advent International have jointly submitted a bid worth approximately $53.4 billion to acquire the company, according to a Reuters report. Main Developments The offer, submitted earlier this month, is backed by roughly $50 billion in committed bank financing. Under the proposal, Stripe and Advent would each hold an equal stake in PayPal. The bid arrives at a turbulent time for the payments company, which issued a profit warning earlier this year. CEO Enrique Lores took over in March following that warning and has since announced plans to cut at least $1.5 billion in costs over the next two to three years. Reports also indicate the company intends to reduce its workforce by around 20%. PayPal has not yet responded publicly to the acquisition offer. Read also: Why Apple's China AI Deal with Alibaba Matters More Than You Think Background This is not the first time Stripe has been linked to a potential PayPal acquisition. Earlier reports in February suggested the company had been exploring a possible takeover and was engaged in preliminary discussions, though no formal proposal emerged at that time. Stripe's valuation climbed to $159 billion earlier this year. Together, the two companies dominate the digital payments landscape. PayPal handled roughly $1.8 trillion in payment volume during 2025, while businesses use Stripe to process $1.9 trillion in payments over the same period. An acquisition would unite two of the biggest names in the industry. Why It Matters This potential deal would reshape the digital payments market by combining Stripe's merchant-focused infrastructure with PayPal's massive consumer base. For PayPal, the acquisition could provide the capital and strategic direction needed to reverse recent struggles and return to stronger growth. For Stripe and Advent, it represents a bet that PayPal's cost-cutting plans and new leadership can restore investor confidence. The bid also signals that private equity sees significant value in mature fintech assets, even those facing headwinds. PayPal, Stripe, and Advent International did not immediately respond to requests for comment. What's Next PayPal's board must now evaluate the unsolicited offer. If negotiations proceed, regulatory scrutiny is likely given the combined market power of Stripe and PayPal. The cost-cutting measures — including the planned workforce reduction and $1.5 billion savings target — may factor into any deal discussions. No timeline for a decision has been announced.