Stripe clinches over US$7 billion deal to buy AI firm OpenRouter

Published Aug 16, 10:39 PM UTC

Stripe has finalized an agreement to acquire OpenRouter, a startup that enables companies to switch between various artificial intelligence models, for more than US$7 billion, according to sources familiar with the matter. The deal, reported by The Business Times on August 17, 2026, is expected to strengthen Stripe's position in the rapidly growing AI sector. OpenRouter provides access to hundreds of AI models, making it a valuable asset for Stripe as it expands its technology offerings. The acquisition underscores the increasing convergence of financial technology and artificial intelligence, with major payments companies seeking to integrate AI capabilities into their platforms.