When Will Stripe IPO?
Stripe S-1 Filed: The Full Story
Stripe has been the most anticipated fintech IPO since 2021, when it raised at a $95 billion valuation.[1] The company experienced the broader tech valuation reset and has since recovered — emerging as the most valuable private fintech company in the world at approximately $159 billion as of May 2026.
On February 14, 2026, Stripe officially filed its S-1 registration statement with the SEC, marking the formal start of its IPO process. This confirms what analysts have long predicted: Stripe is proceeding toward a public listing in 2026. CEO Patrick Collison has previously said the company has "the luxury of not needing to IPO" given its cash generation — but employee liquidity needs, investor pressure, and the successful fintech IPO wave of 2025–2026 appear to have tipped the scale.
The Road to S-1
Stripe's path to filing included several key milestones:
- 2021–2022 — Raised at $95B peak valuation; 2022 market downturn led to ~$50B implied value in secondary markets
- 2023 — Returned to profitability, giving Stripe full control over IPO timing
- 2024 — Employee equity tender offers provided partial liquidity without requiring an IPO
- February 2026 — Filed S-1 with SEC, officially entering the IPO pipeline
What Happens Next
With the S-1 filed, the SEC review process typically takes 60–90 days. Stripe is expected to list on a major exchange (most likely NASDAQ) in mid-to-late 2026. Given the company's $159B valuation and $6.5B ARR, it would be one of the largest tech IPOs in history, rivaling the listings of Visa, Mastercard, and Adyen at comparable stages.
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Sources & Citations
- Stripe Series H press release — $600M raise at $95B valuation, March 2021. stripe.com/newsroom
- SEC EDGAR — No public S-1 for Stripe as of April 22, 2026. sec.gov EDGAR
- TechStackIPO database — Stripe company profile and IPO Readiness Score. techstackipo.com/company/stripe
- Klarna IPO reference — 2026 public listing. techstackipo.com/company/klarna