The Bitcoin Treasuries Podcast with Tim Kotzman
Episode: "Buck – The Bitcoin Dollar" with Travis VanderZanden
January 16, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Tim Kotzman sits down with Travis VanderZanden, founder of Buck, to discuss the creation of Buck—the so-called "bitcoin dollar"—and the opportunities it presents as a tokenized, yield-bearing digital asset. Travis dives into his career in tech, his journey from AI back to crypto, and why he believes products like Buck fill an important gap between stablecoins and holding bitcoin directly. The conversation covers Buck’s structural inspiration, the regulatory landscape, branding decisions, and long-term visions for digital savings.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Travis VanderZanden’s Background and Path to Bitcoin

• Foundation in Tech (00:21)
  • Travis originally studied computer science, began his career at Yammer (acquired by Microsoft), then became an executive at Uber and Lyft.
  • Founded Bird, the electric scooter company, before exploring AI startups.
• Early Bitcoin Involvement (01:54)
  • Bought his first Bitcoin in 2013 after the Yammer exit, sold for life events but returned in 2017 with a long-term hold mindset.
  • “I bought $25,000 worth in 2013 at about $100. But then I had two daughters and ended up buying a house. And so I sold the bitcoin. And I think a lot of people in the bitcoin world have that same experience…” (02:03, Travis)

Pivot from AI to Bitcoin/DeFi

• What Prompted the Shift (02:55)
  • Contrary to most Silicon Valley trends, Travis moved from AI to crypto/bitcoin because of the "application layer" saturation in AI and his deeper passion for bitcoin and decentralized finance.
  • Predicts more AI entrepreneurs may follow as regulatory and tech landscapes evolve in the crypto world.
  • “AI is amazing in a lot of ways… but a lot of this stuff now at the application layer is not very defensible.” (03:19, Travis)

The Inspiration and Mechanics Behind Buck

• The “Stretch” IPO Aha Moment (05:10)

  • Buck was inspired by the IPO of Strategy’s “Stretch” product—designed for lower volatility and steady yield.
  • Travis wanted to tokenize this exposure, providing a product accessible to global crypto users outside institutional finance.
  • “It should be tokenized with 100 to 1 split roughly and brought to the larger kind of crypto DeFi world.” (05:28, Travis)

• What Makes Buck Special (06:09)

  • Aims to provide a stepping stone for users wary of bitcoin’s volatility—combining low volatility (~7%) and a significant dividend (currently 11%).
  • Tokenization widens access to non-U.S. markets and users seeking 24/7 tradability.
  • “If we tokenize it, we can take it to a whole different market than Strategy’s taking it to.” (06:21, Travis)

Naming and Branding "Buck" – The Bitcoin Dollar

• Origin of the Name (06:49)
  • Named for his grandfather’s nickname and a nod to Wisconsin’s culture (Milwaukee Bucks, local fauna).
  • “It just kind of felt like a great name for a bitcoin dollar—Buck.” (06:56, Travis)
  • Tagline “bitcoin dollar” intended to demystify the product for mainstream users.

Access, Jurisdictions, and Regulatory Context

• Where and How to Buy Buck (07:55)
  • Available almost everywhere except the U.S. (pending Clarity Act, regulatory progress).
  • Users can mint via buck.io or buy/swap on Uniswap with expansion to more exchanges coming.
  • “Right now it’s available non-US… mint it on our website at Buck I.O. or… Uniswap.” (08:02, Travis)

Buck as a New Category: "Savings Coins"

• Buck vs. Stablecoins vs. Bitcoin (08:37)
  • Travis envisions a future where bitcoin volatility falls, allowing it to replace intermediaries like stablecoins and Buck.
  • Buck stands between stablecoins (backed by fiat, no yield, subject to debasement) and bitcoin (volatile, long-term hold).
  • “Buck’s more like… your savings account, right? And we’re trying to create this new category that we call savings coins.” (09:49, Travis)
  • Advocates for Buck as a yield-generating, lower-risk digital asset to park funds between trades; promotes the long-term superiority of simply holding bitcoin if you can stomach the volatility.
  • “Use stable coins for checking type things, payments, that’s fine, but you don’t get yield. In fact, you’re probably getting debased 7 or 8% on that. Use Buck if you want to earn extra rewards.” (10:33, Travis)

Progress and Community Engagement

• Growth Metrics and Feedback (11:14)
  • Over $1 million of total value locked within the first week of launch.
  • Invites community feedback as Buck continues to evolve.
  • “We have over a million dollars of total value locked… and we’ve only been live for a week. So off to a good start so far. But we do want to get feedback from the community and figure out how we can continue to help take bitcoin to the world.” (11:44, Travis)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I bought $25,000 worth in 2013 at about $100. But then I had two daughters and ended up buying a house. And so I sold the bitcoin. And I think a lot of people in the bitcoin world have that same experience…”
  — Travis VanderZanden (02:03)

• “AI is amazing in a lot of ways… but a lot of this stuff now at the application layer is not very defensible.”
  — Travis VanderZanden (03:19)

• “If we tokenize it, we can take it to a whole different market than Strategy’s taking it to.”
  — Travis VanderZanden (06:21)

• “It just kind of felt like a great name for a bitcoin dollar—Buck.”
  — Travis VanderZanden (06:56)

• “Buck’s more like… your savings account, right? And we’re trying to create this new category that we call savings coins.”
  — Travis VanderZanden (09:49)

• “Use stable coins for checking type things, payments, that’s fine, but you don’t get yield. In fact, you’re probably getting debased 7 or 8% on that. Use Buck if you want to earn extra rewards.”
  — Travis VanderZanden (10:33)

• “We have over a million dollars of total value locked… and we’ve only been live for a week. So off to a good start so far. But we do want to get feedback from the community and figure out how we can continue to help take bitcoin to the world.”
  — Travis VanderZanden (11:44)

Timestamps by Segment

• 00:21 – Introduction and Travis’s tech career journey
• 01:54 – Early bitcoin experience and lessons learned
• 02:55 – Why pivot from AI to Bitcoin/crypto
• 05:10 – Inspiration for Buck and the “Stretch” IPO
• 06:49 – Choice of the Buck brand and public positioning
• 07:55 – Jurisdictions and buying process for Buck
• 08:37 – Buck’s role in the ecosystem and the emergence of “savings coins”
• 11:14 – Product traction and community outreach

Connect with Buck and Travis

• Website: buck.io
• X (Twitter): @bucktoken
• Travis on X: @TravisB

This episode provides a comprehensive look at an innovative Bitcoin-adjacent financial product, layered with Travis VanderZanden’s unique tech and entrepreneurial perspective. The discussion is frank, forward-thinking, and bridges both financial tech strategy and broader trends in digital asset adoption.