Stripe Acquires OpenRouter in Reported $7.5-Billion AI Deal

Stripe, the financial technology company, has agreed to acquire OpenRouter, an AI infrastructure startup that helps businesses route requests among different artificial-intelligence models, Alexei Oreskovic reported for Fortune Tech.

Stripe is acquiring AI infrastructure startup OpenRouter in a multibillion-dollar deal that expands the fintech company's presence in artificial intelligence. [Photo: Stripe X]

OpenRouter provides a single interface through which developers and companies can access and compare hundreds of AI models from different providers.

Its software helps customers choose models based on factors such as cost, performance and reliability. OpenRouter says it now processes more than 10 trillion tokens a day for more than 10 million developers and companies. 

Stripe did not disclose financial terms. The New York Times reported a $7.5-billion price tag, while other reports have placed the value above $8 billion.

Because neither company has disclosed the transaction value, the exact purchase price remains unconfirmed. 

The reported price represents a dramatic increase from OpenRouter's most recent private valuation. The company raised $113 million in May at a reported $1.3-billion valuation. 

The acquisition gives Stripe a major foothold in AI infrastructure at a time when businesses are seeking ways to control rapidly increasing AI-computing and token costs.

OpenRouter's technology allows companies to route AI workloads among multiple models and providers instead of relying exclusively on a single AI company.

That flexibility can help businesses balance price, performance and availability.

The transaction is Stripe's largest reported acquisition and underscores the growing intersection between financial technology and artificial intelligence.