The people
What they build
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Working at Bunz
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On the TechTO stage
Sascha Darius Mojtahedi of Bunz presents Changes in Retail
Watch on YouTube ↗Sascha Darius Mojtahedi of Bunz presents Platforms, Billionaires & Blockchain
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About
Bunz began as the Bunz Trading Zone, a Facebook group started by Emily Bitze around 2013 for Torontonians to barter goods without money. The mobile app launched around 2016. In 2018, under CEO Sascha Mojtahedi, Bunz introduced BTZ ('bits'), a digital currency users earned and spent at local shops. On the TechTO stage in February 2019 he said users had spent about $1M in BTZ over the prior 10 months across 2.9M+ in-currency transactions at 250+ shops. Later in 2019 the crypto pivot unraveled: layoffs hit, the BTZ program was cut back, and part of the community rebranded to Palz. Firat Eren, Bunz's first investor, has been sole owner since April 2020 and rebuilt the app; in May 2026 it averaged fewer than 200 signed-in daily active users, mostly in Toronto. In August 2026 he brought in a new founding team to try to grow it.
Backers
Firat Eren was Bunz's first investor (from August 2015) and has been its sole owner since April 2020.
Quick answers
What is Bunz?
A Toronto barter and trading community, started as a Facebook group by Emily Bitze and later a mobile app, where people swap goods without cash.
Who founded Bunz?
Emily Bitze started the Bunz Trading Zone Facebook group. Sascha Mojtahedi later joined as CEO and launched its BTZ digital currency.
What was BTZ?
BTZ ('bits') was Bunz's own digital currency, launched in 2018 — earned in the app and spent at 250+ local shops, before the program was scaled back in 2019.
What happened to Bunz?
The 2018 cryptocurrency pivot faltered in 2019 with layoffs and BTZ cutbacks; part of the community rebranded to Palz. Firat Eren, its first investor, became sole owner in 2020 and rebuilt the app. In 2026 it had under 200 daily active users; in August 2026 Eren brought in a new founding team (Martin and Josip Kristo, plus volunteers) to try to grow it.