Global digital exchanges are ramping up efforts to attract Pakistani investors, positioning themselves as secure and accessible platforms as regional geopolitical turmoil pushes investors to diversify away from traditional Gulf real estate holdings, industry experts say.
Pakistan has long been a major source of overseas investment, particularly in real estate across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, with Pakistanis investing billions of dollars annually in overseas property and ranking among the largest foreign real estate investors in several Gulf states.
Recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East, however, have prompted many investors to look beyond conventional property holdings toward more liquid global assets.
Ibrahim Amin, an analyst specialising in real estate and banking, said the Middle East conflict has temporarily shifted the investment preferences of Pakistani investors from regional property markets to cryptocurrencies and internationally traded securities.
He added that recent changes by the banking regulator to minimum profit rate requirements for commercial banks could further push investors seeking higher returns toward international products such as global equities, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and digital assets, alongside gold and real estate in major cities.
According to Amin, digital asset exchanges previously drew strong interest from Pakistani investors, though activity slowed after the government announced plans for a regulatory framework governing digital assets in Pakistan. Amid the current uncertainty, several global exchanges are now intensifying efforts to position themselves as secure options for Pakistani investors.
Despite the absence of a fully developed regulatory framework in previous years, Pakistan has become one of the fastest-growing cryptocurrency markets in the world. Industry estimates put Pakistani holdings of digital assets at between $25 billion and $30 billion across international platforms, with more than 20 million people taking part in the crypto ecosystem.
Gracy Chen, Chief Executive Officer of Bitget, said Pakistani retail investors have grown comfortable with cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, but access to broader international markets, including global equities, ETFs, commodities and foreign exchange products, remains fragmented.
She said many retail traders currently need multiple accounts across different financial institutions to invest in international stocks and other global assets.
Chen said global exchanges are responding by building integrated platforms offering access to multiple asset classes through a single interface. She said Bitget Universal Exchange (UEX) combines cryptocurrencies, tokenised equities, commodities, foreign exchange products and AI-assisted trading tools, allowing investors to manage diversified portfolios without switching between separate crypto exchanges, stockbrokers and commodity trading platforms.
Bitget UEX currently offers tokenised equity-linked products tied to major listed companies including Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, Meta and Tesla, giving investors exposure to international markets through blockchain-based financial products.
While affluent Pakistanis have traditionally spread investments across domestic and overseas real estate, gold and equities, younger investors are increasingly turning to cryptocurrencies and digital assets due to easier accessibility, technological familiarity and greater potential for portfolio diversification.
