PayPal is reportedly still negotiating a possible sale to a group including Stripe and private-equity firm Advent, according to Wall Street Journal reporting summarized by Techmeme and cited by TechCrunch. The talks remain unconfirmed by the companies and are based on unnamed sources, so the story should be read as an active M&A negotiation rather than a completed deal. The reported proposal dates back to July. Techmeme’s summary of the Journal says Stripe and Advent proposed paying $60.50 per share for PayPal, while TechCrunch says the earlier WSJ report put the value of that proposal at $53 billion. PayPal did not accept that bid, and Techmeme reports that the company is seeking a higher price. TechCrunch reports that negotiations did not stop after PayPal balked at the July offer. Citing new WSJ reporting, TechCrunch says a deal could come together in the coming weeks, though neither PayPal nor Stripe confirmed the talks. PayPal declined to comment to TechCrunch, and a Stripe spokesperson said the company does not comment on rumors or speculation. The potential sale is being discussed against a broader turnaround effort at PayPal. TechCrunch reports that Enrique Lores joined PayPal as CEO in March after years at HP, and began making changes in April. Those steps included an executive shuffle and a reorganization into three operating models: checkout solutions and PayPal, consumer financial services including Venmo, and payment services and crypto. TechCrunch also reports that Lores told investors in May that PayPal would refocus on fundamentals, including “becoming a technology company again.” The same report says PayPal’s turnaround plan includes cost savings expected to reduce the workforce by 20% over the next two to three years. The reported talks would put two major payments names on opposite sides of a potentially large transaction. Stripe is identified in the reports as part of the buyer group, while Advent would bring private-equity backing. The available reporting does not describe the proposed structure beyond the group including Stripe and Advent, nor does it say whether PayPal’s board has approved any path forward. For now, the verified takeaway is narrower than the market rumor: PayPal is reportedly still in discussions after rejecting a $60.50-per-share proposal, and the company wants a higher price. The next confirmation point is whether any party moves from talks to a signed agreement, or whether PayPal continues pursuing its standalone turnaround plan. Who benefits: PayPal shareholders could benefit if a higher bid materializes, as the reports say the company is seeking more than the July offer. Stripe and Advent would benefit only if they can reach terms that make the acquisition attractive to them; the provided reports do not detail their strategic rationale. Who's exposed: PayPal employees are exposed to uncertainty from both the reported sale process and TechCrunch’s reported cost-saving plan, which is expected to reduce the workforce by 20% over two to three years. PayPal management is also exposed to pressure to either secure a higher price or show progress on the standalone turnaround.