Stripe is transforming from a payments processor into the financial backbone of the AI economy, processing $6.8 billion in revenue last year as it chases a bigger slice of the artificial intelligence boom.
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Stripe expands into AI billing as revenue hits $6.8 billion
Stripe generated $6.8 billion in revenue in 2025, a 33% increase from a year earlier, as the fintech company deepens its role processing payments for artificial intelligence companies including OpenAI and Anthropic.
The company minted $3.2 billion in cash during the year, according to a report by The Information, giving it substantial firepower for acquisitions as it seeks to diversify beyond core payments processing. Stripe already takes a small cut of the surging subscription and usage-based sales from AI labs and developers that rely on its infrastructure.
"Stripe is positioning itself to play an even greater role in the AI sector that already propelled its revenue," The Information reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the company's financials.
The company's push into AI billing comes as it pursues a multipronged expansion strategy. Stripe acquired Metronome, a usage-based billing startup, in January and integrated its metering capabilities into Stripe Billing. It also launched an AI Gateway service that lets developers access different large language models and track usage from a single dashboard, and acquired Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure company, to expand into digital payments.
Stripe's global payment volume reached $2 trillion, and the company was valued at $159 billion in a February tender offer, up from $106.7 billion in September and $95 billion in 2021.
The PayPal Bid and the Path to Diversification
Stripe, together with private equity firm Advent International, submitted a joint offer in July valuing PayPal at more than $53 billion. PayPal's board called the bid inadequate, according to people familiar with the matter, suggesting the payments pioneer believes it can create more value through its own turnaround plan.
A combination would merge Stripe's merchant-facing software with PayPal's consumer payment credentials — the digital wallets and Venmo accounts that hundreds of millions of shoppers already use. Such a deal would give Stripe access to PayPal's 430 million active accounts and its branded checkout button, which remains one of the most recognized payment methods online.
Why This Matters for Investors
Stripe's expansion into AI billing, stablecoins, and potential acquisition of PayPal signals a strategic shift from a pure payments processor to a broader financial infrastructure platform. The company's $3.2 billion cash position and $159 billion valuation give it the balance sheet to pursue transformative deals.
For investors tracking the fintech-AI convergence, Stripe's moves create pressure on competitors including Adyen and Block, which face a rival with deeper pockets and a faster-growing AI payments book. Stripe's take rate — the fee it charges per transaction, typically 2.9% plus $0.30 — could face compression as it shifts toward higher-value billing and infrastructure services, but the volume growth from AI companies provides a natural hedge.
Stripe remains private with no announced IPO timeline, but its financial disclosures — $6.8 billion in revenue, $3.2 billion in cash generated, and a $159 billion valuation — suggest a company preparing for public markets. The AI billing push, if successful, could accelerate that timeline by demonstrating a durable revenue stream beyond transaction processing.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
