does afterpay have stock?

Does Afterpay have stock? Short answer: Afterpay was publicly listed (ASX: APT) but was acquired by Block, Inc. in early 2022; investors now gain exposure primarily via Block (SQ) or ASX CHESS Depo...

2026-01-20 09:36:00

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Afterpay — Stock and Public Listing Status

Does Afterpay have stock? This article answers that directly and in detail for beginners and investors seeking clarity. In short: Afterpay was a publicly traded Australian buy‑now‑pay‑later (BNPL) company (ASX: APT) but is no longer listed as a standalone equity after its acquisition by Block, Inc. in early 2022. Investors looking for exposure to Afterpay’s business now typically access it through Block’s public securities (or depositary instruments) rather than by buying an independent Afterpay share.

This guide covers Afterpay’s business model, its listing history and delisting process, how former Afterpay holders were converted, practical routes for obtaining exposure today, market reaction at key events, and regulatory points to watch. It uses plain language and defines technical terms (ADR, OTC, CDI) so beginners can follow. Wherever relevant, the article cites reporting dates and source titles to keep the timeline verifiable.

Keyword note: the exact search query does Afterpay have stock appears in this introduction and repeatedly through the article to match common user queries and help you find this resource.

Overview

Afterpay was an Australian fintech that offered buy‑now‑pay‑later (BNPL) services to consumers and merchants. Its product let shoppers split purchases into interest‑free instalments while Afterpay earned fees from merchants and, in some cases, late fees from consumers.

As a standalone company, Afterpay listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker APT following its initial public offering in 2016. That public status changed after Block, Inc. (the U.S. payments company formerly known as Square) agreed to buy Afterpay in 2021 and completed the acquisition in January 2022. After the transaction closed, Afterpay became a subsidiary of Block and its ASX listing was suspended and then removed. As a result, when people ask "does afterpay have stock?" the current practical answer is that there is no actively traded, independent Afterpay share; exposure is generally via Block (NYSE: SQ) or relevant depositary instruments.

As of 19 January 2022, according to ASX company announcements, trading in APT shares was suspended around the completion of the takeover process. As of 31 January 2022, according to Block’s public communications, Afterpay transitioned into Block’s corporate structure and Block-related depositary instruments began trading on ASX to allow investors continued access to Block securities through the Australian market.

Listing History

Initial public offering on the ASX (APT)

Afterpay launched commercially as a BNPL provider and grew quickly across Australia and later into international markets. The company completed an initial public offering on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in 2016 under the ticker APT. Over the following years, Afterpay attracted investor attention as BNPL usage expanded and the company reported rapid user and merchant growth.

During its time as an ASX-listed company, Afterpay experienced material volatility common to rapidly growing fintechs: periods of sharp share appreciation driven by user growth and market enthusiasm for BNPL, and intermittent pullbacks as analysts and regulators scrutinized the sector.

When users ask "does afterpay have stock" in the historical sense, the clear answer is yes — Afterpay was publicly traded as APT from its 2016 IPO until the takeover by Block in early 2022.

OTC / ADR availability (AFTPY)

Before and around the takeover period, some U.S. brokerage platforms and OTC markets offered forms of exposure to Afterpay via American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) or OTC tickers sometimes listed as AFTPY (or similar). These instruments provided limited access for U.S. investors who could not directly trade on the ASX.

Important points about ADRs/OTC instruments:

ADRs and OTC listings are not identical to direct listings; they are depositary receipts or quote arrangements and can differ in liquidity and regulatory oversight.
OTC/ADR tickers for Afterpay (for example, AFTPY on some platforms) gave U.S. investors a way to participate in Afterpay’s price movements pre‑acquisition, but liquidity and pricing could vary significantly from ASX trading.

When checking whether "does afterpay have stock" in U.S. markets, remember that OTC/ADR availability has historically been limited and subject to delisting or conversion if an acquisition occurs.

Acquisition by Block, Inc. and ASX suspension/delisting

Block, Inc. announced an agreement to acquire Afterpay in 2021. The combination was structured to bring Afterpay’s BNPL capabilities into Block’s ecosystem, combining merchant and consumer offerings across markets.

As of 1 August 2021, according to contemporaneous reporting, Block announced the all‑stock transaction that valued Afterpay at an implied enterprise valuation in the tens of billions of dollars (widely reported around US$29 billion). The deal required shareholder approvals and regulatory steps in multiple jurisdictions.

As the transaction moved to completion in January 2022, Afterpay’s shares on the ASX were suspended and then removed from quotation following the successful acquisition. As of 19 January 2022, according to ASX announcements, trading in Afterpay (APT) was suspended as the scheme of arrangement (the takeover mechanism used in Australia) moved through finalisation stages. After completion, Afterpay ceased to be a separately listed public company and became a Block subsidiary.

Because Afterpay no longer traded independently, the short answer to "does afterpay have stock" is that Afterpay stock as APT stopped trading after the Block acquisition process completed.

Post-acquisition structure and investor convertibility

Conversion of Afterpay shareholdings

When a public company is acquired in an all‑stock transaction, pre‑acquisition shareholders typically receive the acquiring company’s securities according to the agreed exchange terms, or cash, or a combination. In the Afterpay acquisition, Afterpay shareholders received consideration in Block securities under the terms of the scheme of arrangement that shareholders and courts approved.

Conceptually, the conversion process works like this:

Afterpay shareholders holding APT received the agreed Block securities in exchange for each Afterpay share they owned (the specific exchange ratio was set in the takeover documentation and shareholder materials at the time).
Once the formal conversion occurred and the scheme was implemented, Afterpay shares ceased quotation and ownership interests were recorded in Block securities instead.

This conversion meant that former Afterpay shareholders are now Block shareholders (or hold Block depositary instruments), with their economic exposure shifting from a standalone Afterpay company to a combined Block entity that includes Afterpay’s business.

Note: this section explains the mechanics of conversion conceptually rather than listing the precise exchange ratio. If you held Afterpay shares at the time of the transaction, you should review the takeover scheme documents and the registry communications you received for the exact conversion terms. This article does not provide personalised legal or tax advice.

Block, Inc. instruments relevant to former Afterpay investors

After the acquisition, several publicly traded instruments became the primary ways for investors to access the Afterpay business indirectly:

Block common stock (NYSE: SQ): Block’s ordinary shares trade in the U.S. and reflect the consolidated business after the Afterpay acquisition. Most investors seeking direct exposure to Afterpay’s operations now follow or buy Block stock on global markets where Block is listed.
ASX CHESS Depositary Interests (CDIs): To support Australian investors, CHESS Depositary Interests representing Block shares began trading on the ASX after the transaction completed. CDIs allow Australian market participants to trade an Australian‑listed instrument that mirrors a foreign company’s shares while keeping settlement within ASX/CHESS systems.
OTC / ADR instruments: Any remaining OTC or ADR tickers that had previously represented Afterpay (for example, AFTPY) either stopped reflecting a standalone Afterpay security after the acquisition or were converted/terminated depending on the depositary arrangements. Liquidity and availability of such instruments can be inconsistent after corporate actions.

In practice, many investors who previously asked "does afterpay have stock" and expected to buy Afterpay directly now look to Block’s listed securities or CDIs to retain economic exposure.

How investors can (or could) buy "Afterpay" exposure now

If you are searching "does afterpay have stock" because you want to invest in the business formerly known as Afterpay, here are practical routes to consider. None of the below is investment advice — this is informational only.

Buy Block, Inc. common stock (SQ)
- The most direct public route to hold the combined company is to buy shares of Block, Inc. (ticker SQ) on the primary exchange where it trades. This gives you exposure to Block’s consolidated results, which include Afterpay’s operations.
- Check marketplace liquidity, trading hours, and broker access for foreign listings.
Trade Block CHESS Depositary Interests (CDIs) on ASX
- For Australian market access and settlement convenience, Block CDIs on the ASX provide a local way to hold instruments representing Block shares. CDIs are commonly used when a foreign company wants to be accessible to ASX investors without a full local listing.
Check for any OTC/ADR instruments
- Some U.S. investors previously used OTC/ADR tickers (e.g., AFTPY) to get exposure before the acquisition. After the acquisition, those instruments may have been converted or deactivated. If you find an OTC listing purporting to represent Afterpay specifically, verify current status and liquidity with your broker.
Tokenized or derivative products (crypto marketplaces)
- Certain platforms and exchanges have offered tokenized stocks or synthetic derivatives that mirror equities. If you seek crypto‑native exposure, consult Bitget for availability of tokenized access and use Bitget Wallet for secure custody of crypto assets. Confirm product details, fees and regulatory status before trading.

Practical checks before buying:

Confirm the ticker symbol and primary exchange (e.g., SQ on NYSE or the ASX CDI ticker).
Verify trading hours, settlement currency and tax implications for holdings converted from Afterpay to Block instruments.
Check liquidity and bid/ask spreads — especially for OTC/ADR products, which can be thinly traded.

When considering the question "does afterpay have stock" today, note that buying Block is not the same as buying a standalone Afterpay company — Block’s financials, risk profile and strategy reflect a broader business mix.

Historical performance and market reaction

Before the acquisition, Afterpay was one of the leading BNPL companies globally and the public market’s interest in the sector drove significant valuation movements. Highlights of market behavior include:

Rapid share‑price appreciation during major user and merchant growth phases, particularly as Afterpay expanded into new geographies such as the U.S., U.K. and elsewhere.
Periods of volatility when regulators and consumer advocates scrutinised BNPL business practices and when interest rate expectations affected investor views on credit‑oriented fintechs.
Heightened takeover interest and strategic bids in 2020–2021 as incumbents and payments companies sought BNPL capabilities.

Market reaction to the Block announcement in August 2021 was significant: the deal implied a multi‑billion‑dollar valuation for Afterpay and was broadly reported as a major consolidation move in the BNPL space. Following the confirmation of the transaction and its subsequent completion in January 2022, Afterpay’s public share trading ceased and investors shifted to tracking Block.

When people ask "does afterpay have stock" they often reference these historical price run‑ups and wonder whether the company remains independently investable — the answer is that Afterpay no longer trades separately, and those historic performance patterns are now subsumed within Block’s consolidated results.

Key dates and milestones (timeline)

2014 — Afterpay founded in Australia by founders including Nick Molnar and Anthony Eisen.
2016 — Afterpay completed an initial public offering and listed on the ASX under the ticker APT.
1 August 2021 — Block, Inc. publicly announced an agreement to acquire Afterpay in an all‑stock transaction (reported widely in major financial press on this date).
19 January 2022 — As the takeover proceeded to implementation, APT trading on the ASX was suspended around this date in accordance with ASX and scheme timetable notices (reported in ASX company communications).
Late January 2022 (around 31 January 2022) — Block completed the acquisition and Afterpay became a subsidiary; Block‑related CHESS Depositary Interests began trading on the ASX shortly thereafter to give Australian investors market access to Block securities.

These milestones show why the question "does afterpay have stock" shifted from a historical yes to a present‑day no for independent shares.

Regulatory and market considerations

When thinking about Afterpay’s current public status and the question "does afterpay have stock", investors should be aware of several regulatory and market issues:

Differences between direct shares, CDIs and ADRs/OTC instruments: Direct shares represent primary listed ownership; CDIs are Australian instruments representing foreign shares under CHESS; ADRs are U.S. depositary receipts representing foreign shares and may trade OTC. Each has different settlement, voting and tax implications.
Voting rights and corporate actions: Afterpay’s standalone governance rights ceased upon acquisition. Shareholders who accepted the takeover consideration now hold Block securities and participate in Block’s corporate governance rather than Afterpay’s former shareholder meetings.
Tax and cross‑border considerations: Converting holdings during a takeover can have tax implications (capital gains events, timing of recognition, etc.). Consult a tax professional for personal tax questions.
Reporting and disclosures: Afterpay’s financials are now consolidated into Block’s public reporting. For operational details about Afterpay’s performance, search Block’s investor reports and earnings disclosures.
Liquidity and market structure: OTC/ADR instruments for Afterpay, if still quoted, can have lower liquidity and wider spreads. Post‑acquisition, many of those instruments are no longer representative of a standalone Afterpay business.

All of the above help explain why a simple query like "does afterpay have stock" can require attention to corporate action and securities mechanics.

Frequently asked sub-questions

Q: Can I still buy Afterpay shares on ASX? A: No — APT was suspended and delisted after the Block acquisition in January 2022. Afterpay no longer trades as an independent ASX‑listed company.

Q: Is there an ADR for Afterpay? A: OTC/ADR tickers (for example, AFTPY) existed and provided U.S. access historically. Post‑acquisition, these instruments were affected by conversion or termination; check your broker for current availability and liquidity.

Q: How do I invest in Afterpay now? A: If you want exposure to the Afterpay business, you can buy Block, Inc. (SQ) on the primary exchange where it trades or trade Block CDIs on the ASX where available. For tokenized or crypto‑native products, review Bitget’s listings and Bitget Wallet offerings to see if they provide relevant products.

Q: As a former Afterpay shareholder, what happened to my shares? A: Former Afterpay shareholders received the agreed consideration (Block securities) under the scheme of arrangement. Check the takeover documentation and registry communications for exact conversion terms and dates.

Q: Does Afterpay still operate as a brand? A: Yes — Afterpay’s business and brands (including regional names such as Clearpay in the UK) continue to operate as part of Block’s merchant and consumer ecosystem, but corporate ownership is with Block.

References and sources

"Block to buy Afterpay in $29bn deal" — Reuters (reported 1 August 2021).
"ASX Company Announcement: Suspension of Quotation — Afterpay Ltd (APT)" — ASX corporate notices (reported around 19 January 2022).
"Block Completes Acquisition of Afterpay" — Block, Inc. press release (reported late January 2022).
"Afterpay ADR / OTC quote (AFTPY)" — Markets Insider / OTC market pages (date‑stamped pages vary by provider).
"Afterpay IPO and listing history" — ASX company archive and Listcorp historical filings (2016 ASX listing materials).
"Investing.com — Afterpay OTC/ADR page" — Investing.com market profiles (historical snapshots).

As of 1 August 2021, according to Reuters, the acquisition agreement implied an enterprise valuation of Afterpay of around US$29 billion. As of 19 January 2022, according to ASX notices, APT trading was suspended as the scheme implementation proceeded. As of 31 January 2022, according to Block’s communications, the acquisition completed and Block‑related depositary instruments started trading on ASX to provide Australian market access to Block securities.