When buying crypto in Pakistan through platforms like Binance P2P, many beginners experience a situation where a noticeable amount of money seems to disappear during conversion. For example, you may start with Rs 20,000 but see only around Rs 19,190 reflected in your wallet. This creates frustration and raises doubts about whether the system is a scam. In reality, this loss usually happens because of a concept called spread, which is not clearly shown as a fee but works like one.
Spread is simply the difference between the price at which you buy crypto and the price at which you can sell it at the same time. When you buy USDT or another stablecoin, you are buying from a merchant who sets a higher price. When you try to sell, other merchants are offering a lower price. The gap between these two prices is the spread, and that gap is where your money goes. Even if the platform shows “zero fees,” spread still exists and can cost you hundreds of rupees without any warning.
In Pakistan, this issue is more severe because crypto buying is mostly done through peer-to-peer (P2P) trading. This means you are not buying directly from Binance or another exchange, but from individual merchants. These merchants earn their income by selling crypto at higher rates and buying it back at lower rates. This is similar to how money changers operate in traditional currency exchange markets. The system itself is not fraudulent, but it strongly favors merchants, especially when market liquidity is low.
Small trade amounts are affected the most by spread. When your capital is limited, even a small difference in rates can result in a significant percentage loss. This makes frequent buying and selling very risky. One poor trade can wipe out gains from several good ones. This is why many people feel that P2P trading is unfair or broken, when in fact the problem lies in how the pricing works.
Another major issue is using “Express” or instant P2P options. These options are designed for speed and convenience, not for good rates. They usually come with the worst spreads because you are paying extra for instant execution. Many beginners choose these options without realizing how expensive they are. Manual P2P trading, where you compare multiple offers, is usually safer and cheaper.
A common mistake is checking only the buy price and ignoring the sell price. Before buying crypto, it is essential to check how much you would get if you sold it immediately. If the difference between buy and sell rates is large, it means the spread is high and the trade is not worth doing. Entering such a trade almost guarantees a loss, regardless of market direction.
Frequent conversion between PKR and USDT also increases losses. Every time you convert, you pay the spread again. Converting back and forth without a strong reason slowly drains your balance. A safer approach is to convert once, hold your crypto, and only trade when conditions are favorable and spreads are low.
In conclusion, the problem you faced was not due to a scam or hidden theft, but due to a lack of understanding of spread and how P2P markets operate in Pakistan. Spread is the silent cost that most beginners overlook, and it can be far more expensive than visible fees. Learning to check both buy and sell prices, avoiding express options, reducing frequent conversions, and being patient can save you a lot of money.
The most important lesson to remember is this: if you do not calculate the spread before buying, the spread will calculate your loss for you.
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