Embodiments provide a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) having reduced single-ended capacitance. In one embodiment, the VCO may include a transformer, a capacitor bank, and a gain stage. The transformer may include a primary inductor and a secondary inductor, and the secondary inductor may be inductively coupled to the primary inductor. The capacitor bank may be coupled to the secondary inductor and may provide a majority of a total capacitance of the VCO. The gain stage may be coupled to the primary inductor and configured to receive a supply signal and to drive a differential current in the primary inductor, thereby inducing an output signal across the secondary inductor having a frequency equal to a resonant frequency of the VCO.