Why Stripe Just Became a $159 Billion Company

$159 billion. That's what investors now think Stripe is worth—a staggering 75% jump from its $91.5 billion valuation just one year ago. For a company that processes payments, that's Samsung-level money.

But here's the thing: Stripe isn't just processing payments anymore.

The Numbers Tell a Different Story

Stripe moved $1.9 trillion in payment volume during 2025, up 34% from the previous year. To put that in perspective, that's more than the GDP of most countries flowing through their pipes.

More telling is what's happening beyond basic payment processing. The company's "revenue suite"—a bundle of financial services for businesses—is on track to hit a $1 billion annual run rate in 2026. They're not just moving money; they're becoming the financial operating system for modern businesses.

Philippe Laffont from Coatue Management, one of the investors in this latest funding round, put it bluntly: "In the AI era, Stripe is emerging as the default financial layer for companies at the frontier of the 'token economy.'"

The AI Economy's Financial Backbone

That "token economy" reference isn't throwaway marketing speak. Stripe has been aggressively positioning itself at the intersection of traditional finance and digital assets. The company's $1.1 billion acquisition of crypto startup Bridge last year—its largest acquisition ever—signals where they see the future heading.

They've also snapped up crypto wallet provider Privy and billing startup Metronome in January. Each acquisition adds another layer to their financial infrastructure stack.

For investors and entrepreneurs watching this space, the message is clear: the companies building the plumbing for the AI economy are attracting serious money. Thrive Capital, a16z, and other top-tier VCs are betting that as AI transforms how businesses operate, the financial rails underneath need to evolve too.

The No-IPO Growth Model

Stripe's approach to this latest valuation bump is particularly interesting. Instead of going public, they're conducting a tender offer for employees and existing shareholders. Translation: they're providing liquidity without the headaches of public markets.

The Collison brothers, who founded the company in 2010, have been clear they're "not in any rush" to go public. This latest move shows why—they can access capital and reward stakeholders while maintaining the long-term focus that public markets often discourage.

The company reported being "robustly" profitable in 2025 while continuing to invest heavily in acquisitions and product development. That's the kind of financial flexibility that makes staying private attractive.