New ad network powered by user purchase data being launched by PayPal.

PayPal is set to venture into the advertising business by utilizing the extensive data it gathers on consumer purchases and spending behaviors. With plans to establish an ad network, PayPal aims to provide merchants and brands with the opportunity to target its approximately 400 million users with personalized promotions and ads tailored to their transaction histories.

This move by PayPal holds significant importance for advertisers due to the vast amount of purchasing data it possesses from its 400 million users. This enables sophisticated targeting and advertising across various channels, as PayPal intends to extend ad services beyond its platforms.

In order to spearhead this initiative, PayPal has made key hires such as Mark Grether, former head of Uber’s ad business, as the SVP/GM of PayPal’s new PayPal Ads division. Additionally, John Anderson, previously in charge of product/payments at Plaid, has been brought onboard as the SVP/GM of PayPal’s consumer group.

PayPal already offers an “Advanced Offers” ad product that utilizes AI to provide targeted discounts to users from merchants during purchases. The company plans to enhance this by selling ads to brands outside its merchant network, which can be displayed across the web and connected TV.

Users have the option to opt out of having their data utilized for ad targeting, as mentioned by Grether in an interview with WSJ. This move by PayPal follows in the footsteps of other finance giants like JPMorgan Chase, which have entered the retail media ad space by leveraging customer data for monetization.

Although PayPal’s ad business is still in its early stages, it may face challenges in significantly impacting the fintech company’s core payments processing business, which boasts higher profit margins. This endeavor aligns with PayPal’s aim to rebound from recent setbacks, including layoffs and a stock decline following subdued profit growth forecasts for the year.

Overall, PayPal’s foray into the advertising sector presents an opportunity for targeted advertising and personalized promotions to its vast user base, potentially reshaping the digital advertising landscape.