PayPal just lost its $53 billion safety net

A payment industry consortium comprising Stripe and private-equity firm Advent International withdrew its acquisition proposal for PayPal, eliminating a major source of support for the company’s stock valuation. The group had offered $60.50 per share, representing approximately $53 billion in total value. Following the withdrawal announcement, PayPal shares fell 12.7% to close at $53.66, with trading volume reaching roughly 36 million shares—more than double typical daily activity.