Payments company based in London, Checkout.com has been valued at US$ 12 billion after a new employee stock buyback program. An impressive figure for any startup, but a setback for a company that has been worth almost four times more in the past (only three years ago). The new valuation comes from a 409A assessment by an independent third party rather than new outside investment, highlighting both progress and limitations for one of Europe’s most closely watched fintechs.
The figure represents a rebound from the US$ 9.4 billion valuation the company set in 2023, though it remains far from the US$ 40 billion peak it reached in 2022. The new number is almost a 30% increase from its last internal assessment, underscoring cautious optimism among employees and observers. Unlike previous funding rounds, no external investors are involved in the latest deal.
Checkout.com’s trajectory is very similar to its main competitor Stripe, which also saw its valuation collapse during the venture capital downturn but has since climbed back to US$ 91.5 billion earlier this year. Stripe is now rumored to be preparing another tender offer at more than US$ 100 billion, a level that adds competitive pressure on Checkout.com as it works to regain market momentum.
Despite the valuation reset, Checkout.com reports it has turned profitable since late 2024 and expects its first full year of profitability in 2025. The company processes around US$ 1 billion in daily e-commerce payments for clients including eBay and Pinterest and has expanded to 2,000 employees across 19 offices worldwide. Its buyback program, available to staff with at least one year of tenure, marks an effort to retain talent in a competitive payments landscape.
