We study the interplay between dispersion due to the electron degeneracy parameter and dissipation caused by plasma resistivity, in degenerate Fermi–Dirac Pauli quantum plasma. Considering relativistic degeneracy pressure for electrons, we investigate both arbitrary and small amplitude nonlinear structures. The corresponding trajectories are also plotted in the phase plane. The linear analysis for the dispersion relation yields interesting features. The present work is anticipated to be of physical relevance in the study of compact magnetized astrophysical objects like white dwarfs.