PayPal receives takeover approaches after stock price plunge - Crypto Economy

TL;DR

• PayPal attracts unsolicited takeover approaches after stock plunge.
• Shares fell nearly 46% over the past 12 months.
• PYUSD stablecoin surpasses $4 billion market capitalization.

PayPal Holdings attracted unsolicited buyout interest after its shares dropped nearly 46% over the past 12 months, according to a Bloomberg report citing people familiar with the matter. The payments company is holding meetings with banks to evaluate acquisition proposals from unidentified investors.

One potential bidder, described as an industry rival, is exploring a purchase of the entire company. Other parties expressed interest in specific PayPal assets rather than a full takeover. The conversations remain in early stages, and no transaction is guaranteed to materialize.


Company shares rose more than 6% on Monday following the report. The rebound highlights how far the stock had fallen before the news broke.

The state of PayPal’s crypto strategy

PayPal faces pressure to reignite growth amid intensifying competition in digital payments and slower user expansion. The company has positioned stablecoins as part of the answer. Its dollar-pegged stablecoin PYUSD surpassed $4 billion in market capitalization, becoming the sixth-largest stablecoin globally behind USDT, USDC, USDe, DAI, and USD1.

The firm also expanded crypto functionality within its platform. It recently introduced shareable payment links that allow users to send cryptocurrencies and stablecoins through peer-to-peer transfers. Earlier in 2025, it launched “Pay with Crypto,” a blockchain-based settlement service that enables merchants to accept digital asset payments while receiving funds in fiat currency.


These initiatives reflect an attempt to integrate digital assets into everyday payments rather than treat them as a separate product line. However, neither the payment links nor the merchant settlement service appeared prominently in the company’s latest earnings announcement.

Recent leadership changes add another layer of uncertainty

Enrique Lores, current CEO of HP, took the helm at PayPal following the departure of Alex Chriss in February, after disappointing fourth-quarter 2025 results.

Any bidder will weigh not only PayPal’s current earnings profile but also the viability of its strategy to bridge traditional payments with blockchain-based settlement. A full acquisition by an industry rival would represent consolidation in a crowded digital payments field where scale influences margins, merchant pricing, and technology investment.

Interest in specific assets suggests some bidders may value PayPal’s infrastructure, user base, or digital-asset capabilities more than its entire corporate structure. The absence of confirmed bids keeps the situation fluid. For now, the takeover interest provided a temporary lift to the stock.