An area-efficient balun and a method for signal processing using such a balun. One example balun generally includes a winding and a clamping circuit. The winding is formed by a coiled trace including a first portion having a first trace width and a second portion having a second trace width, the second trace width being narrower than the first trace width. The clamping circuit has a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the clamping circuit being coupled to the first portion of the coiled trace.