Stripe, the prominent payments company, has recently announced a remarkable increase in its valuation, surging over 70% to reach $159 billion in just one year. This increase coincided with Stripe’s latest employee share sale, a strategic move designed to extend its status as a private entity for a longer duration. By allowing employees to cash in on their stock holdings, Stripe eases the pressure to pursue a public listing. In fact, the company has emphasized its commitment to focusing on advancements brought by artificial intelligence (AI) and the growth of stablecoins, rather than a swift move to the stock market.
John Collison, co-founder and president of Stripe, stated that a significant capital markets transaction, such as an IPO, “is not in our top 10 or 20 list of priorities.” This sentiment reflects the company’s strategy of leveraging its own capital while also securing investments from notable firms including Thrive Capital, Coatue, and Andreessen Horowitz to facilitate the sale of shares from past and current employees.
The updated valuation comes alongside Stripe’s announcement of its annual letter, revealing that the company processed $1.9 trillion in payments in 2025, marking a significant 34% increase from the previous year. This growth has been fueled by a new wave of startups capitalizing on AI innovations, in addition to major tech players like Nvidia and Microsoft joining the platform. Moreover, Stripe reported that it has been profitable for the second consecutive year.
A noteworthy observation from Stripe’s recent performance is that over half of the new companies that registered with the platform last year were located outside the United States. This trend indicates a surge in the number of global AI-driven startups, facilitated by the ease of digital asset deployment. Stripe’s early investment in stablecoins—cash-like digital tokens pegged to the dollar—has also paid dividends. The company acquired stablecoin platform Bridge for $1.1 billion in 2024, a strategic move that coincided with the passage of the US’s Genius Act, regulating stablecoins and significantly increasing payment volumes.
With payment volumes at Bridge reportedly quadrupling last year, Stripe has called on the EU to keep pace with developments in stablecoins, as European legislators are currently focused on establishing a digital euro. Collison highlighted the importance of remaining competitive in the fast-evolving fintech landscape, stating, “When people talk about stablecoins, they often mean dollar-denominated stablecoins. We are seeing that being used for remittances or for people creating new kinds of fintech applications. It’s important that Europe not miss out there.”
Looking ahead, Collison expressed his anticipation for a future where consumers increasingly adopt “agentic payments,” facilitated by AI agents. This innovation could particularly enhance the experience of making low-stakes payments, such as utilizing a chatbot to gather missing ingredients for recipes. He articulated optimism regarding consumer adoption, pointing out that people prefer shopping over the tedious process of filling out web forms required for transactions.
