PayPal: From Confinity to Global Payments Giant Founded in 1998 as Fieldlink, later renamed Confinity, the company initially focused on security software for handheld devices. A pivot to digital wallets led to the launch of the PayPal electronic payments system in 1999. A 2000 merger with Elon Musk's X.com, followed by a leadership change installing Peter Thiel as CEO, solidified its direction. Rebranded as PayPal in 2001, the company went public in 2002, generating over $61 million. eBay's acquisition in 2002 for $1.5 billion cemented PayPal's dominance in online payments, handling a significant portion of eBay transactions. Strategic acquisitions, partnerships with MasterCard and Discover, and expansion into offline payments broadened its reach. The company weathered challenges including denial-of-service attacks in 2010 and the departure of key executives like David Marcus. A 2015 spin-off from eBay marked a new chapter for PayPal. Subsequent acquisitions, including Xoom and iZettle, strengthened its international presence and in-store capabilities. Despite setbacks like investment losses in Uber, PayPal continued to innovate, launching features like PayPal.Me and forging partnerships with Instagram and Honey. In recent years, the company has faced regulatory scrutiny, workforce reductions, and a CEO transition, but continues to adapt to the evolving fintech landscape and reported an aim to revive growth in their branded checkout products amidst increased competition.